2012-13
Year in Review
2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Introduction Echols Athletic Excellence Award.......... 2 NCAA Championships............................... 2 NCAA Division II........................................... 3 Men’s Cross Country................................... 4 Women’s Cross Country............................ 5 Men’s Soccer.................................................. 6 Women’s Soccer........................................... 7 Volleyball........................................................ 8 Football........................................................... 9 Men’s Basketball.........................................10 Women’s Basketball..................................11 Men’s Golf.....................................................12 The South Atlantic Conference aspires to be the premier NCAA Division
Women’s Golf..............................................13
II athletic conference in the country; a conference where a high priority
Men’s Tennis................................................14
of each member institution is a balance between athletics and the overall academic, spiritual and physical development of each student-
Women’s Tennis..........................................15 Baseball.........................................................16
athlete to provide these individuals with life skills for future success. Softball..........................................................17 SAC Headlines..................................... 18-31
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Echols Athletic Excellence Award 2012-13 SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award Standings 1. Wingate
109.5
For the seventh year in a row, Wingate University won the SAC
2. Tusculum
89.5
Echols Athletic Excellence Award, which is presented annually to
3. Lincoln Memorial
86.5
the member athletic department that earns the highest point total
4. Lenoir-Rhyne
86
based on cumulative final standings in each of the conference’s
5. Anderson
81
sports.
6. Catawba
73
7. Carson-Newman
72
The Bulldogs won regular-season SAC championships in volleyball
8. Newberry
69
and women’s tennis, and also captured SAC Tournament titles in
9. Mars Hill
62
volleyball, men’s basketball and women’s tennis.
10. Brevard
37.5
NCAA Championship Selections Men’s Cross Country Alex Griggs, MHC* Women’s Cross Country Keeley Wood, WU* Men’s Soccer Mars Hill Wingate Women’s Soccer Lenoir-Rhyne Wingate Volleyball Lenoir-Rhyne Lincoln Memorial Newberry Tusculum Wingate
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Football Carson-Newman Lenoir-Rhyne Men’s Basketball Lincoln Memorial Wingate Women’s Basketball Anderson Lenoir-Rhyne Men’s Golf Lincoln Memorial Brian Denton, WU* Chandler Gruenemeier, NEW* Women’s Golf Newberry Emee Herbert, TC*
Men’s Tennis Lincoln Memorial Women’s Tennis Wingate Softball Anderson Lenoir-Rhyne Wingate Baseball Lincoln Memorial
* Individual selection
2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Men’s Cross Country
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Mars Hill
Runner of the Year Steve Hammond, WU
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Freshman of the Year Alex Griggs, MHC
Scholar-Athlete Christian Crifasi, CAT
Coach of the Year Mike Owens, MHC
2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Women’s Cross Country
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Lenoir-Rhyne
Runner of the Year Keeley Wood, WU
Freshman of the Year Hannah Cook, BC
Scholar-Athlete Jenny Grant, TC
Coach of the Year Jason Stewart, L-R
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Men’s Soccer
Regular Season Champions Mars Hill (14-3-3, 7-1-1)
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Anderson
Tournament MVP: Lukas Hesse, AU
Player of the Year Mario Pinto, LMU
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Freshman of the Year Tobias Tobrant, L-R
Scholar-Athlete Andy Goellner, TC
Coach of the Year Gary Hamel, MHC
2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Women’s Soccer
Regular Season Champions Lenoir-Rhyne (16-2-2, 9-0)
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Lenoir-Rhyne
Tournament MVP: Leah Mullins, L-R
Player of the Year Jade Montgomery, WU
Freshman of the Year Leah Mullins, L-R
Scholar-Athlete Chantel Azevedo, BC
Coach of the Year Cally Morrill, L-R
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Volleyball
Regular Season Champions Wingate (32-3, 16-2)
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Wingate
Tournament MVP: Anna Hilton, WU
Player of the Year Anna Hilton, WU
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Freshman of the Year Shelly Stumpff, WU
Scholar-Athlete Ashley Sarmiento, TC
Co-Coach of the Year Shelton Collier, WU
Co-Coach of the Year Michael Robinson, TC
2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Football
Regular Season Champions Lenoir-Rhyne (9-3, 6-1)
Co-Off. Player of the Year Brandon Haywood, C-N
Co-Off. Player of the Year Chris Bowden, WU
Co-Def. Player of the Year Troy Harris, MHC
Off. Freshman of the Year Def. Freshman of the Year Jaquan Marsh, BC Javaris Neal, C-N
Co-Jacobs Blocking Kaleb Myrick, L-R
Co-Def. Player of the Year Cory Johnson, CAT
Coach of the Year Mike Houston, L-R
Scholar-Athlete Co-Jacobs Blocking Robbie Nallenweg, WU Kevin Day, C-N
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Men’s Basketball
Regular Season Champions Lincoln Memorial (25-6, 15-3)
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Wingate
Tournament MVP: Paidrick Matilus, WU
Player of the Year Antoine Davis, C-N
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Freshman of the Year Keith Jumper, TC
Scholar-Athlete Chandler Hash, AU
Coach of the Year Chuck Benson, C-N
2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Women’s Basketball
Regular Season Champions Anderson (23-9, 14-4)
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Anderson
Tournament MVP: Alissa Diaz, AU
Player of the Year Alissa Diaz, AU
Freshman of the Year Tuccoa Brackett, BC
Scholar-Athlete Danielle Bongiorno, L-R
Coach of the Year Jim Brunelli, AU
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Men’s Golf
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Lincoln Memorial Individual Medalist: Connor Froning, LMU
Player of the Year Jamie Chapman, LMU
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Freshman of the Year Tyler Stone, WU
Scholar-Athlete David Talley, TC
Coach of the Year Travis Muncy, LMU
2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Women’s Golf
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Newberry Individual Medalist: Barbara Castro, NEW
Player of the Year Emee Herbert, TC
Freshman of the Year Johanna Neumann, WU
Scholar-Athlete Jillian Corum, TC
Coach of the Year Clarissa Childs, NEW
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Men’s Tennis
Regular Season Co-Champions Anderson (10-6, 8-1)
Tusculum (15-5, 8-1)
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Lincoln Memorial
Tournament MVP: Philipp Hoffmann, LMU
Player of the Year Lukas Winkelmann, TC
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Freshman of the Year Nicolas Planchard, TC
Scholar-Athlete Lukas Winkelmann, TC
Coach of the Year Tommy Arnett, TC
2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Women’s Tennis
Regular Season Champions Wingate (19-6, 9-0)
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Wingate Tournament MVP: Tiffany Williams, WU
Co-Player of the Year Claire Dillman, BC
Co-Player of the Year Leah Donoff, LMU
Co-Freshman of the Year Erin Mills, TC
Co-Freshman of the Year Liz Renteria, CAT
Scholar-Athlete Kelli Ferguson, WU
Coach of the Year Michael Cabana, WU
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Baseball
Regular Season Champions Catawba (36-16, 21-6)
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Lincoln Memorial
Tournament MVP: Curt Fuqua, LMU
Pitcher of the Year Nick Lomascolo, CAT
Player of the Year Chris Dula, CAT
Scholar-Athlete Taylor Rakes, TC 16
Freshman of the Year TJ Rinoski, WU
Coach of the Year Jim Gantt, CAT
2012-13 SAC Year in Review
Softball
Regular Season Champions Tusculum (31-19, 13-5)
Food Lion SAC Tournament Champions
Lenoir-Rhyne
Tournament MVP: Jessica Fellmeth, L-R
Pitcher of the Year Carley Tysinger, CAT
Player of the Year Brittany Hefner, C-N
Scholar-Athlete Casey Stevens, NEW
Freshman of the Year Carley Tysinger, CAT
Coach of the Year Julie Huebner, TC 17
2012-13 SAC Year in Review
2012-13
SAC Headlines
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review FB: Wingate vs. Carson-Newman game to be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network [June 21]
INDIANAPOLIS – The Sept. 27 SAC football game between Wingate and Carson-Newman will be broadcast nationally on the CBS Sports Network as part of the 2012 NCAA Division II Football Game of the Week Schedule, it was announced on Thursday. The Thursday night game is set to kick off at 8 p.m. from Carson-Newman’s Burke-Tarr Stadium. CBS Sports Networks’ coverage will be anchored by play-by-play analyst Brad Johansen, color analyst Doug Chapman and sideline reporter Lisa Byington. “This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase not only two of the top football programs in the league, but the entire South Atlantic Conference,” said SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz. “We would like to thank the NCAA and CBS for selecting this game and providing such great exposure for these student-athletes, schools and the conference.” Carson-Newman and Wingate are two programs rooted in success. The Bulldogs won the SAC championship in 2010 and have finished second on three other occasions, while the Eagles boast a SAC-record 21 league titles and 22 NCAA Tournament appearances. Wingate defeated Carson-Newman, 33-21, in last season’s matchup. NCAA Vice President Mike Racy said the Division II Football Game of the Week program has been good for the participating institutions and Division II in general. “This will be the seventh season of Division II regular-season coverage on CBS Sports Network,” Racy said. “After this year, national telecasts will have originated from 35 different Division II football stadiums, and about 25 percent of our football-playing members will have had regular-season national television exposure. It’s been great for the division, and the schools say it’s also been valuable for them.” The 2012 Game of the Week schedule will kick off Sept. 6 with a nonconference matchup between Bowie State and Benedict College.
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review SAC to sponsor four new sports starting in 2013-14 [July 3]
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Beginning in the 2013-14 academic year, the South Atlantic Conference will sponsor men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, men’s outdoor track and field, and women’s outdoor track and field as championship sports. The addition of the four new sports was officially voted on and approved by the SAC Presidents Council at the league’s annual meeting last month. It will bring the number of SAC championship sports to 18. “We’re excited to add lacrosse and track in 2013-14,” said Commissioner Patrick Britz. “In doing so, many more student-athletes will be given the unique opportunity of competing in the SAC. “By officially becoming SAC championship sports, we believe these lacrosse and track programs will offer greater visibility to their respective campuses and the conference while continuing to enhance the overall student-athlete experience.” With the pending addition of Coker College and Queens University of Charlotte in July 2013 to the league’s membership, lacrosse and track will meet the requirements for conference sport sponsorship, as outlined in article XV of the SAC Bylaws. Lacrosse and track will be part of the SAC spring sports season. Dates and locations of the inaugural lacrosse and track SAC Championships will be determined in the coming months. The SAC will also form ad-hoc committees this summer to discuss sport policies and scholarship maximums for the sports. Men’s lacrosse is currently played at Catawba, Coker, Lenoir-Rhyne, Mars Hill, Queens and Wingate, while women’s lacrosse is sponsored at Catawba, Lenoir-Rhyne, Newberry and Queens. Tusculum is poised to add both men’s and women’s lacrosse in advance of the 2013-14 season, while Wingate and Coker also plan to develop women’s programs prior to it becoming a SAC sport. Men’s and women’s track are currently sponsored sports at Anderson, Brevard, Carson-Newman, Lenoir-Rhyne, Mars Hill, Queens and Wingate.
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review L-R’s Griewisch, LMU’s Mimendi selected to NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30 [August 24]
INDIANAPOLIS – Lenoir-Rhyne’s Kate Griewisch and Lincoln Memorial’s Sofia Lopez Mimendi are among the top 30 honorees for the 2012 NCAA Woman of the Year award, the association has announced. Griewisch and Mimendi were selected from a group of nearly 430 nominees. The top 30 consists of 10 student-athletes from each NCAA division. Each of the top 30 honorees reflect the pillars of the Woman of the Year award, with outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. Griewisch ended her college career at Lenoir-Rhyne as one of the most decorated student-athletes in SAC history. The Banner Elk, N.C. native was a three-time All-American in cross country, including a sixth-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Championship. She won the individual medal at the 2009 and 2011 Food Lion SAC Cross Country Championships, and was a three-time winner of the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championship. Griewisch, who graduated with a degree in biology in May, was also an accomplished track and field runner at Lenoir-Rhyne. In addition, Griewisch was a two-time Academic All-American, a three-time SAC Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the 201011 SAC Presidents Award winner and the recipient of the 2011-12 SAC Female Athlete of the Year Award. Mimendi has also been a two-sport star at Lincoln Memorial, racking up accolades in both cross country and tennis. She completed her tennis career last spring as LMU’s all-time leader in doubles wins and finished second in school history with a .844 doubles winning percentage. The Mexico City native was named to the 2012 All-SAC Team in both singles and doubles, and was also a 2012 Capital One Academic All-District selection. Mimendi has one year of cross country eligibility remaining, and will look to build upon her 2011 season in which she made the AllSAC First Team and USTFCCA All-Region Team. She was a preseason All-Conference pick heading into 2012 as well. Three Woman of the Year finalists from each division will be selected in September, with the winner scheduled to be announced on Oct. 14 during a ceremony in Indianapolis.
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review WXC: Lenoir-Rhyne’s Griewisch named finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year Award [September 13]
INDIANAPOLIS - Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Kate Griewisch has been named one of the nine finalists for the 2012 NCAA Woman Of The Year. The award will be announced at a ceremony on Sunday, October 14, in Indianapolis. Finalists were selected based on academic achievement, athletics excellence and dedication to community service and leadership. Three women from each NCAA division were chosen. The nine finalists are among 30 Woman of the Year honorees who will be honored during the event. The pool of 30 emerged from a group of nearly 430 nominees. It includes 10 honorees from each NCAA division who represent a range of NCAA sports. Griewisch, a native of Banner Elk, N.C., earned NCAA Division II All-American honors seven times in three different sports: women’s cross country (2009-11), indoor track and field (2012) and outdoor track and field (2011-12). In women’s cross country, Griewisch has won the past three NCAA D-II Southeast Regional races (2009-11) and was named the 2009 and 2011 South Atlantic Conference Runner Of The Year. Griewisch also led L-R to back-to-back league titles in 2008 and 2009 and is a three-time SAC Women’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Of The Year. Griewisch finished fourth in the 5,000-meter women’s finals en route to All-American accolades this past March at the 2012 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Mankato, Minn. In outdoor track and field, Griewisch earned All-American honors in the 10,000-meter championship the past two years and garnered AA laurels in the 5,000-meter finals as well in May at the D-II Outdoor Finals in Pueblo, Colo. Griewisch finished third and fourth in the 10K and 5K championship races, respectively, this year. Griewisch’s success on the track won her 2011 and 2012 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) D-II Indoor and Outdoor Southeast Region Women’s Athlete-Of-The-Year honors. In addition, Griewisch was named female recipient of the 2010-11 South Atlantic Conference Presidents Award and was selected the 2011-12 SAC Female Athlete Of The Year. An outstanding student as well, Griewisch graduated this past May with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a 3.85 grade point average. Griewisch is also a two-time Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-America (2011-12) selection including first-team honors this year and has been named to the school’s Dean’s List. Griewisch is a four-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and served as President of Chi Beta Phi, a math and science honor society. In addition, Griewisch created an elementary school Science Olympiad and served on Lenoir-Rhyne’s Student Government Association’s Treasury Committee. “My experience as a scholar, an athlete and a leader on campus and the community have reminded me of my blessings and helped form who I am,” said Griewisch. - Lenoir-Rhyne Media Relations
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review MBB: Anderson at LMU to be broadcast on CBS Sports Network [September 20]
INDIANAPOLIS – The January 12 SAC men’s basketball game between Anderson and Lincoln Memorial will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network as part of the Division II National Game of the Week package, the NCAA and CBS announced on Thursday. The matchup is part of a nine-game package for the 2012-13 men’s and women’s basketball season. This will mark the seventh year of the Division II Game of the Week program. “We’re thrilled that Anderson and Lincoln Memorial, two of the nation’s top basketball programs in recent years, will be featured in this package,” said SAC commissioner Patrick Britz. “Not only will the CBS Sports Network broadcast showcase these two fine institutions, but it will also provide a platform to share the core values of our conference with a national audience.” Anderson and LMU are winners of the previous two SAC regular-season championships, with the Railsplitters capturing the title in 2010-11 followed by the Trojans in 2011-12. Anderson has made three-straight appearances in the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship, while LMU has earned bids to the previous two. AU advanced to the Elite Eight in 2011 and finished one win shy of returning last season. “This has certainly become the game that both schools’ players and fans circle,” said LMU head coach Josh Schertz. “It should be a great game in a juiced atmosphere.” Added Anderson head coach Jason Taylor: “We are grateful to CBS Sports for all they’ve done and continue to do for Division II athletics. We are extremely excited they have chosen this game as part of their college basketball package.” CBS Sports Network is available to 99 million homes nationwide. In addition to the Division II Game of the Week package, the network’s content lineup includes NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship studio analysis, programming from numerous Division I conferences, the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse, among others. The Anderson vs. LMU contest, scheduled to tip off at noon, will mark the second SAC event televised on CBS Sports Network in 2012-13. The Sept. 27 football game between Wingate and Carson-Newman will also be broadcast live on the network.
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review VB: Wingate’s Krauser wins NCAA Elite 89 Award [December 6]
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Wingate University senior middle blocker Grace Krauser has earned the prestigious Elite 89 Award, officials announced at Wednesday night’s Elite Eight banquet. Krauser wins the award for the second time in her career. She also won the honor in 2010. Krauser is the first NCAA Division II volleyball student-athlete to win the Elite 89 Award twice. She is also the first SAC student-athlete to be honored twice. In 2010, Krauser became the first SAC student-athlete to win the award. After earning first team Academic AllAmerica honors as a junior, Krauser earned first team Academic All-District honors this season. The Academic All-America team will be announced later this month. An award founded by the NCAA, the Elite 89 recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 89 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 89 championships. The awards were first presented in the fall of 2009. “What a great honor for Grace to be receiving such a prestigious award at this special event,” head coach Shelton Collier says. “She has been a great leader and role model here for four years here and she has tremendous respect from her teammates and coaches for her work ethic and her commitment to academics. We are proud of all she has brought to Wingate as a player and as a student and this is award will be very special to her and to our program.” A two-time All-SAC selection, Krauser is averaging 1.87 kills per set this season. She ranks fourth in the SAC with 0.85 blocks per set and sixth with a .281 hitting percentage. Krauser hit .474 with nine kills and four blocks against Belmont Abbey. She registered 10 kills and five blocks at USC Aiken, while piling up seven kills, five digs and five blocks at Newberry, hitting .538. Krauser hit .556 with 10 kills and seven blocks against Carson-Newman, while notching eight kills in the win at Tusculum. She had nine kills and six digs at Carson-Newman, hitting .300 on the match. Krauser hit .333 with 10 kills in the SAC title match, while hitting .700 in the regional title match with seven kills and three blocks. Krauser has registered 732 kills and 230 blocks during her career. The Bulldogs have gone 131-7 during Krauser’s four years, including a 68-2 mark in league play while winning the SAC regular season and SAC Tournament title all four years. The Bulldogs have also advanced to the Sweet 16 all four years of her career, while winning two regional titles. The Bulldogs are 32-2 overall this season, riding a 23-match winning streak as they prepare to take on top-ranked Concordia-St. Paul in the national quarterfinals Thursday. Wingate ranks fourth nationally in winning percentage this season, ranking in the top five for the sixth straight year. Wingate led the nation in winning percentage in 2007, 2010 and 2011, while ranking third in 2008 and 2009.
- Wingate Media Relations
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review MXC: LMU’s Maldonado named NCAA National SAAC chair [February 7]
theSAC.com: Tell us about the process of being selected as national chair. Did you have to campaign for yourself? Maldonado: “In a way I had to campaign for myself, yes, but not in the traditional sense. The national chair is selected from within the representatives of the NCAA Division II SAAC. The member must first be nominated for the position, and cannot nominate themselves. Those who are nominated are then allowed to give a short speech as to why they feel they would be the right person for the position. Once the nominated individuals have all spoken, the committee then votes for the individual they feel would best represent them.” theSAC.com: What are your favorite experiences so far from being on the National SAAC? Maldonado: “My favorite experiences so far from being on the National SAAC definitely have to be the in-person meetings we have throughout the year. We committee members only meet face to face for 12 days out of the year, and I’ve never seen a group of strangers bond as quickly and become like family.” theSAC.com: What do you anticipate being your top goals during your term as national chair? Maldonado: “First, I want us to continue the tradition of excellence that our predecessors carried on before us. Secondly, I want to get more positive student-athlete actions noticed and in the media. Next, I want us, as Division II student-athletes, to break the $500,000 barrier for proceeds that benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Lastly, I want to continue to encourage our student-athletes to give back to their communities that faithfully support them on and off the field.” theSAC.com: How can you use your National SAAC experience to benefit your fellow-student-athletes at Lincoln Memorial and across the South Atlantic Conference? Maldonado: “Sharing all the knowledge and information that I obtain from my National SAAC experience is the biggest thing I’ve found to directly benefit those around me.” theSAC.com: How has being on National SAAC impacted you away from athletics? Maldonado: “Professional development is what comes to mind when I think about how National SAAC has impacted me away from athletics. I’m a lot more confident in myself to speak in front of a multidisciplinary audience, and I don’t have to think twice when I must take charge in any situation, such as conducting business.” theSAC.com: What does it mean to you, personally, to have the opportunity to lead student-athletes from all over the country? Maldonado: “Like I said when I was originally appointed to the DII SAAC, it’s a great honor and privilege. I have a greater appreciation for everything that has to go on behind the scenes just so that we athletes can practice and play. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to impact so many lives in a positive way.”
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review Wingate’s Bartlett, L-R’s Griewisch represent SAC on DII 40th Anniversary Tribute Team [February 15]
INDIANAPOLIS – In celebration of the 40th anniversary of NCAA Division II, 48 former student-athletes have been selected to the 40th Anniversary Tribute Team and are set to be honored by the NCAA throughout 2013. Among the honorees are former Wingate three-sport athlete Patrick Bartlett and former Lenoir-Rhyne cross country and track star Kate Griewisch. The 40th Anniversary Tribute Team was developed through a partnership between the NCAA and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association. Each Division II conference is represented on the team by one male and one female selection. “This group of former student-athletes is meant to reflect the core values of Division II athletics,” said NCAA associate director of Division II Josh Looney. “Not only did these former student-athletes act as champions in athletics and in the classroom, they’ve gone on to live championship lives as well.” Bartlett played tennis, basketball and soccer during his Wingate career, which stretched from 1996 to 2000. He was a three-time Academic All-America selection in tennis, the SAC Men’s Tennis Player of the Year in 1999 and a four-year selection to the All-SAC men’s tennis team. Bartlett was also a two-year letterwinner on the Wingate men’s basketball team and spent one season with the WU men’s soccer squad. He is a member of the SAC Hall of Fame class of 2012. Today, Bartlett is the Manager and Director for Audit Services at McGladrey, a public accounting firm in Charlotte, N.C. Griewisch, meanwhile, was a seven-time All-American spanning cross country, indoor track and outdoor track at Lenoir-Rhyne. In cross country, Griewisch earned All-America honors three times, including a fourth-place finish at the 2011 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship. She won the NCAA Southeast Region Championship three times and twice earned SAC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year accolades. In addition, Griewisch earned All-America honors for the indoor track 5,000 meter run in 2012, the outdoor track 5K in 2012 and the outdoor track 10K in 2011 and 2012. Griewisch was also named the SAC Women’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year three times, the SAC Presidents Award winner in 2010-11 and the SAC Female Athlete of the Year in 2011-12. She capped her decorated L-R career by being selected as one of nine finalists for the 2012 NCAA Woman of the Year Award, which spans all three divisions. Since graduating in May, 2012, Griewisch has devoted her time to international missions work. The year-long NCAA Division II 40th anniversary celebration will feature a number of initiatives branded by Division II’s tradition, history and community influence. Each member of the 40th Anniversary Tribute Team will receive a commemorative 40th anniversary gift and is slated to have their accomplishments profiled through Division II’s media channels.
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review WBB: SAC teams raise $9,000 in Play 4Kay initiative support [February 28]
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Women’s basketball programs from across the SAC together generated $9,000 in support for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund’s Play 4Kay initiative, including a league-high $2,854.03 from Anderson. The mission of the initiative, which began in 2007, is to develop a nation of coaches raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. Each SAC women’s basketball program designated a game in February during which it encouraged fans to support the cause. Anderson’s Play 4Kay night took place on Feb. 16 against Lincoln Memorial. AU will be recognized for its efforts during next week’s Food Lion SAC Basketball Championship in Greenville, S.C. Over the past five seasons, the conference has raised nearly $30,000 for the fund. “We are honored to have been a part of the Play 4Kay initiative,” said Anderson athletic director Nancy Simpson. “Many on our campus and within the AU family have been affected by breast cancer, and we are all truly committed to paying it forward and being a part of the movement to find a cure. “We are truly appreciative that the South Atlantic Conference is so committed to this cause, and that we had such a successful event conference-wide.”
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review SAC Hall of Fame to induct three new members [March 20]
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Two former standout student-athletes and a longtime campus administrator have been chosen for induction into the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame in 2013, league commissioner Patrick Britz announced on Wednesday. Members of the Class of 2013 include former Catawba women’s soccer player Catey Conner, former Mars Hill cross country runner Brock Bailey and former Carson-Newman director of athletics David Barger. “It’s with great excitement that we unveil this impressive class,” said Britz. “Catey and Brock were two of the conference’s most decorated student-athletes during the 1990s, and David’s leadership – on the campus, conference and national levels – helped the league get to where it is today.” Brock Bailey Mars Hill men’s cross country | 1995-98 Brock Bailey was a key figure in building Mars Hill cross country into what is now the conference’s most dominant program. Behind Bailey, the Lions won SAC championships in 1997 and 1998, beginning a streak of conference titles that has now reached 16 straight. Bailey earned a laundry list of cross country accolades during his MHC career, including being named the SAC Freshman of the Year in 1995, SAC Runner of the Year in 1998 and the SAC Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1996 and 1998. He was also a member of the All-Conference First Team in 1995, 1997 and 1998, and an Academic All-American in 1998. Today, Bailey coaches track and cross country at Daniel High School in Pickens, S.C., where he was named the 2012 HSSR Coach of the Year after his boys’ team won the AAA state cross country championship. David Barger Carson-Newman Director of Athletics | 1970-2012 For more than three decades, David Barger was the driving force of Carson-Newman athletics. A 1970 C-N graduate, Barger returned to his alma mater in 1980 as Director of Athletic Promotions then Director of Athletic Development before being named AD in 1990. Under Barger’s guidance, Carson-Newman built one of the SAC’s most well-rounded athletic departments, led by a national power football program that won NAIA national titles in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1989, and reached the NCAA Division II championship game three times from 1996 through 1999. He was instrumental in transitioning Eagles athletics from NAIA to Division II in 1993. Barger’s Carson-Newman tenure included SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Awards in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2010. C-N student-athletes earned SAC Presidents Awards and SAC Athlete of the Year Awards – the league’s most prestigious individual honors – eight times under his watch. His career saw participation in intercollegiate athletics at the school increase 20 percent. Since his retirement in 2012, Barger has continued to serve in an advisory role at Carson-Newman as Athletics Director Emeritus. Catey Conner Catawba women’s soccer | 1997-2000 One of just four players in SAC women’s soccer history to earn multiple conference Player of the Year awards, Catey Conner led Catawba to arguably its most successful period in program history. Conner’s Catawba teams won three-straight Food Lion SAC Soccer Tournament titles from 1997 through 1999, and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament in 1997. In addition to being named SAC Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999, Conner was the conference’s Freshman of the Year in 1997, a third-team All-American in 1999, a four-time selection to the All-Conference First Team, and a four-time All-Southeast Region First Team pick. Conner’s 59 goals scored remain tied for the sixth-most in SAC history, and her 134 career points are tied for 10th in league history. Conner is currently the Director of Coaching for U11-14 at Charlotte United FC, providing oversight for 26 girls’ soccer teams.
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review SAC, Timmons Arena reach agreement for future SAC Basketball Championships [April 8]
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Following a successful 2013 Food Lion SAC Basketball Championship, the SAC has reached an agreement with Timmons Arena to hold its next two championships at the venue, the conference office announced on Monday. The new agreement, which was approved last week by the SAC Athletic Directors Committee, makes Timmons Arena the home of the SAC Basketball Championship for 2014 and 2015 seasons. 2013 marked the first year the SAC Basketball Championship was held at Timmons Arena, which is on the campus of Furman University in Greenville, S.C., and serves as home to the school’s Division I basketball programs. “The SAC is very excited to have our basketball championship at Timmons Arena in 2014 and 2015,” said SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz. “Together, we put on a great event this past March and are thrilled at the opportunity to extend the relationship. “Our goal is to continue growing the championship into an event that is embraced both regionally and within the city of Greenville.” The $10.9 million facility, which was built in 1998, has a seating capacity of 3,500 and is located just minutes from Greenville’s downtown district. The 2014 Food Lion SAC Basketball Championship will take place March 8-9, while the 2015 event will be held March 7-8. “We are pleased to be able to offer our student-athletes an outstanding experience by taking the championship back to Greenville and Timmons Arena,” said Roger Vannoy, Athletic Director at Lincoln Memorial and chair of the SAC Athletic Directors Committee. “Timmons Arena is a first-class facility, and the Furman University staff did a very professional job hosting last month’s event.”
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review Wingate clinches seventh-straight Echols Athletic Excellence Award [April 24]
ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the seventh-straight season, Wingate University has won the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award, which annually recognizes the member athletic department with the highest point total based on cumulative final standings in each of the conference’s sports. Wingate has won the award outright in six of the seven years during its streak, and split the title with Carson-Newman in 2009-10. Regular-season finish is used in the sports of men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, baseball and softball, while SAC Championship results are used for men’s and women’s cross country, and men’s and women’s golf. Wingate entered the SAC spring sport season with just a 0.5-point lead over Lenoir-Rhyne in the standings, but a conference title in women’s tennis and second-place finishes in baseball and men’s golf increased the Bulldogs’ final point total to 109.5 – 20 points higher than runner-up Tusculum. WU also finished tied for third in men’s tennis, fifth in women’s golf and seventh in softball during the spring. Tusculum’s second-place finish in the Echols Award standings is the school’s best since 2008-09, when it also placed second. The Pioneers were eighth in the standings following winter sports, but won the softball title, shared the men’s tennis title, and finished second in women’s tennis and women’s golf to shoot up the standings. TC’s impressive collective spring performance was also aided by a third-place finish in baseball and a fifth-place showing at the SAC Men’s Golf Championship. Lincoln Memorial, which won the SAC Men’s Golf Championship and finished No. 3 in women’s golf, placed third in the final Echols Award standings, followed by No. 4 Lenoir-Rhyne and No. 5 Anderson. Lenoir-Rhyne’s top spring performance was a third-place finish in men’s golf, while Anderson shared the men’s tennis title and finished second in softball. SAC baseball champion Catawba finished at No. 6, followed by Carson-Newman at No. 7. Completing the standings are SAC women’s golf champion Newberry at No. 8, No. 9 Mars Hill and No. 10 Brevard. The Echols Athletic Excellence Award, named after former SAC Commissioner Doug Echols, will be presented at the conference’s Hall of Fame banquet on June 6 in Asheville, N.C.
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2012-13 SAC Year in Review BSB: Tusculum’s Rakes named Capital One Academic All-American of the Year [May 30]
TOWSON, Md. - Tusculum College pitcher Taylor Rakes has been named the 2013 Capital One NCAA Division II Baseball Academic All-American of the Year, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Rakes becomes the first student-athlete in school history to be named Academic All-American of the Year for their sport. Rakes was also selected to the Capital One Academic All-America® first team for a second straight season, becoming the first twotime honoree in TC baseball history. Rakes, a 6-1, 160-pound graduate student from Norcross, Ga., earned his Bachelor’s degree last year in Business and Economics, where he posted a 3.87 cumulative grade point average. The Norcross High School graduate was named the South Atlantic Conference Baseball Scholar Athlete of the Year for a second straight season, while also earning a spot on the All-SAC second team for a consecutive season. Rakes emerged as the pitching ace of the weekend rotation for the Pioneers this year as he posted a 7-2 record in his 15 appearances, including 13 starts. His 2.82 ERA is the seventh lowest in the South Atlantic Conference, where he has pitched in 89.1 innings, allowing 23 walks and a team-best 84 strikeouts. His 2013 strikeout tally is the third-best in TC history and is currently third in the league and 10th in the nation this year. For his career, Rakes tallied a sterling 26-7 record and is second all-time in career victories. His 285 career innings pitched are the most in school history. He is also second in career strikeouts (209), second in starts (45), fourth in complete games (9) and 10th in ERA (3.66). Rakes is a member of the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Tusculum Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, Charles Oliver Gray Honors List, President’s List and is a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society. He is very active in leadership and community service in the Tusculum College and Greeneville community. He has been active with the Pioneer Student Athlete Advisory Council’s fundraising efforts for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Cancer Society and the St. Baldrick’s “Basebald” program to aid childhood cancer research. He has volunteered as a Greeneville Youth Baseball Mentor, served as a guest speaker in Tusculum Athletic Training and his experiences with his “Tommy John” surgery and, along with his father, provided free lawn care services for stationed armed forces personnel. Last June, he was named the recipient of the 2011-12 South Atlantic Conference Presidents Award, the highest honored earned by a league student-athlete. Rakes becomes the fifth Tusculum student-athlete to earn Academic All-America® honors on more than two occasions in their career, joining Denise Fliesser (women’s soccer), Jarrell NeSmith (football), Simon Holzapfel (men’s cross country) and Ashley Sarmiento (volleyball). Rakes also becomes only the third two-time Academic All-America® first team selection in Tusculum history, joining Fliesser (2004, 2005) and Holzapfel (2009, 2010) in that exclusive group. The Capital One Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2012-13 Division II Academic All-America® teams program. To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports. - Tusculum media relations
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Food Lion is the Official Corporate Sponsor of the SAC.