CFL team signs Former Saint Augustine's University OL Wells

JUSTIN WELLS
Courtesy Carolina Panthers

EDMONTON, AB Canada -- Former Saint Augustine’s University and Orlando Predators Justin Wells signed a contract with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, the franchise announced this week.

Wells, a 6-foot-4, 325-pound offensive lineman, played six games for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League (AFL) this season. As a rookie in 2014, Wells helped produce the AFL’s top-ranked total offense (320.3 yards per game) while protecting quarterback Jason Boltus, who ranks first overall in total offensive touchdowns (53). Wells was placed on the AFL’s “Other League Exempt List” with this week’s signing.

"We built our program to be an environment in which young players can develop and perfect their skills," said Orlando Predators Head Coach Rob Keefe. "Justin is a player that took coaching well and applied those techniques to field. We are extremely proud to see Justin make the transition to the CFL and wish him the best of luck as he furthers his football career."

Prior to entering the Arena Football League, Wells was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and 2013. He was assigned to the Arizona Rattlers of the AFL before being acquired by the Predators via trade on Jan. 16.

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Tampa Bay brings back franchise extra point leader, Juan Bongarra (Albany State)

TAMPA, Florida -- The Tampa Bay Storm acquired kicker Juan Bongarra (Bone´-gah-rah), announced vice president of football operations Jeff Gooch. The team reassigned kicker Geoff Boyer.

“We are excited to have Juan back with the team,” said Gooch. “He brings the experience and professionalism that we look for in a Storm player.”

Bongarra (6-foot-3, 200 lbs., Albany State) enters his fourth season in the AFL and his third in a Storm uniform. A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bongarra holds the Storm all-time career record for extra points attempted (241), extra points made (207) and ranks third all-time in points scored – kicking (225). In 2012, Bongarra broke the Storm single-season record for extra points made with 116. He began his AFL career in 2011 with the Tulsa Talons. For his career, Bongarra has made 302-of-354 PATs and 17-of-42 field goal attempts.

Bongarra played collegiately at Scottsdale Community College (AZ) where he earned all-National Junior College Athletic Association honors. He would go on to transfer to Albany State (GA) where he was named an All-SIAC selection.

Boyer (5-foot-10, 170 lbs., Middle Tennessee State) joined the Storm three games into the 2014 season. He made 24-of-27 extra point attempts.

NCAA Regional Tennis Brackets Revealed, Chowan Men Take on Shaw, Women Face Indiana University of Pennsylvania

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana  --  With the unveiling of the NCAA DII Men's and Women's Tennis Championship brackets on Tuesday evening, the Hawks can prepare to continue their historic seasons at the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Tournament.  Both programs will make their first-ever regional appearances this weekend.

On the men's side, 48 teams earned bids to this year's tournament (15 automatic qualifiers and 33 at-large bids).  Bluefield State and West Virginia Wesleyan will each serve as Atlantic Region site hosts, with the winners from each location advancing to the NCAA Finals May 14^th-17^th in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

The Hawks are making history after earning the institution's first-ever at-large bid in any program.  Despite falling to Shaw 5-1 in the CIAA Championship, Chowan maintained a fifth place ranking in the Atlantic Region, securing their spot as the fifth seed in this weekend's tournament.

The men's team will travel to Bluefield State on Sunday, May 4^th, and will take on the Shaw Bears, the number four seed, in a rematch of the CIAA Championship title match.  Chowan posts a 17-9 mark on the year, while Shaw is 14-5 on this season.  The winner will advance to take on the Bluefield State Big Blues on May 5^th.  Exact times will be released as they become available. 

West Virginia Wesleyan, Charleston (WV), Shaw, Edinboro, Kutztown all advanced to the Atlantic Regional Tournament as well.  For more details regarding the men's regional championship, click HERE.

48 women's teams earned bids to this year's tournament (17 automatic qualifiers and 31 at-large bids).  California University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University of Pennsylvania will serve as Atlantic Region site hosts, with the winners from each location advancing to the NCAA National Championship Tournament May 14^th-17^th in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

The women earned an automatic bid after clinching their first-ever CIAA Women's Tennis Championship with a 5-0 win over Virginia State University back on April 19^th.   The Hawks travel to Indiana University of Pennsylvania this Saturday, May 3^rd and enter the Atlantic Regional Tournament as the number seven seed.  They will compete against the Crimson Hawks of Indiana (PA), who captured an at-large bid after winning earning a runner-up finish at the PSAC Championship.  The Crimson Hawks, 17-9, are the number two seed in the Atlantic Region on the women's side.  The winner will take on Slippery Rock / West Viriginia State on May 4th.  Times will be released as they become available.

Chowan posts a program-best 23-7 overall record heading into regional play this weekend.    Cal-P, West Virginia State, Mercyhurst, West Liberty, and Slippery Rock round out Atlantic Region bracket on the women's side.  For more information about the women's regional championship, click HERE.



COURTESY CHOWAN UNIVERSITY HAWKS SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Names Tonia Walker Athletics Director

TONIA WALKER
WSSU ATHLETICS DIRECTOR

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  – Tonia Walker, associate director of athletics and senior woman administration at Winston-Salem State University, has been named the athletic director for the program effective immediately.

 

"Tonia has done an outstanding job in every role she has been given within the WSSU athletics program and has a wealth of knowledge of intercollegiate athletics beyond our campus," said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves.  "Having Tonia as the athletic director brings strong leadership to the program and provides stability for our players, coaches and staff.  Tonia has certainly earned this opportunity and I am absolutely delighted that she is moving into this position on a permanent basis."

 

Walker has been serving as interim athletic director since March 1 of this year and had previously served as interim director for nearly a year in 2009.  She joined the WSSU athletics staff in August 2000 as assistant director and head volleyball coach.  In 2002, she resigned her coaching duties to focus on her administrative role.  Walker began her career in athletics in 1993 at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) headquarters.

 

As associate director of athletics, Walker was responsible for the internal operations of the department and was instrumental in fundraising efforts, the implementation of CHAMPS/Lifeskills programming, the Rams leadership Academy and other initiatives that supported the development of the student athletes and the athletics staff.

 

Walker has served on numerous committees both nationally and for the university, including serving in various positions with the CIAA and serving on the NCAA Division II Membership Committee.  She is currently a member of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) and of the Minority Opportunities Association, as well as the Black College Coaches and Administrators Association. 

 

Named the CIAA Senior Woman Administrator for 2003-2004, 2005-2006 and 2011-12, Walker was one of eight participants from throughout the country selected for the NCAA Fellows Leadership Development Program.  She is a graduate of the NACWAA HERS Institute and Executive Institute and was the 2008 recipient of the NACWAA Nell Jackson Award given annually to an athletic administrator who is a strong leader and an advocate for gender equity.

 

Walker earned a B.A. degree with honors in speech and language disorders from Hampton University and her M.S. degree in recreation and sports administration from Old Dominion University.  While at Hampton, Walker was a two-sport athlete, playing both basketball and softball.

 

COURTESY WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

South Carolinal State Women's Draw No.8 Florida

2014 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY LADY BULLDOGS
COURTESY SCSU ATHLETICS
ROSTER 

GAINESVILLE, Florida   -- The defending women's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Champion South Carolina State University will travel to the sunshine state to take on eight-seeded Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tennis Championship at the Linder Stadium Tennis Complex.

SC State (13-5) earned their 10^th consecutive and 11^th overall Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship will face the eight-ranked Lady Gators (19-5) in the 64-team draw, Friday May 9 beginning at 3 p.m. ET.

Ticket Information:
·         Tickets may be purchased in advance or on each day of the tournament.
·         An ALL-SESSION Pass is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for senior citizens, college students and children under 17.
·         SINGLE DAY tickets for Friday and Saturday are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for senior citizens, college students and children under 17.
·         SINGLE DAY tickets for Sunday are $3.00 for everyone.
·         A Will Call window for the teams will also be located at the Ring Tennis Complex entrance.
·         Spectators interested in purchasing an advance ALL-SESSION Pass may do so by contacting:

o    Gator Ticket Office
o    Post Office Box 14485
o    Gainesville, FL  32604
o    352/375-4683, ext. 6800
o    352/372-5801 (fax)

Friday, May 9 * Women's NCAA First Round
12 p.m.	Oklahoma State vs. South Florida
3 p.m.	Florida vs. South Carolina State

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Alcorn State Selected To Face Texas A&M in NCAA Tournament

2014 ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY BRAVES
ROSTER
COURTESY ASU ATHLETICS

 BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference 2014 Men's Tennis Champions, Alcorn State, were selected on Tuesday to face No. 8 Texas A&M University in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Texas A&M was one of 16 schools selected to host the first and second rounds of the tournament. ALCN (9-8,7-0) will head to College Station on May 10 to compete against the Aggies at 12:00 p.m. CT.

First round matches in College Station will begin on Saturday, May 10, with the Texas Tech facing Cal at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Panthers at 12:00 p.m. CT. The winners will face off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, to determine which team advances to the NCAA Championships in Athens, Ga., May 16-20.

Under the leadership of Head COach Anthony Dodgen, the Panthers will head into the tournament unbeaten in SWAC play at 7-0.

NCAA Tournament Bracket

Ticket information:
$12 All-Session Reserved (Stadium Club)

$7 Single Day Reserved (Stadium Club)

$5 Single Day General Admission

$3 Single Day Student/Youth

Free for children under age two

COURTESY SWAC.ORG 

SCSU Bulldogs Draw North Carolina Tarheels In First-Round Of NCAA Tennis Championships

2014 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS
ROSTER
COURTESY S.C. STATE ATHLETICS

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina — The South Carolina State Bulldogs is set to battle host No. 7 seed North Carolina in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Team Tennis Championship held Saturday at Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center.

Matches on Saturday, May 10 at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center will feature South Carolina (15-13) of the Southeastern Conference against Atlantic 10 Conference champion George Washington (17-6) at 9 a.m.

UNC (24-5) will face South Carolina State (9-7) at 12 noon in the second first round match.

The Tar Heels are  3-0 all-time against the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs (10-7) currently earned their 7^th consecutive and 12^th overall Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title and received the league's automatic bid to the NCAA field.  The Tar Heels (24-5) of the ACC is currently ranked seventh nationally by the ITA.

Tickets for the event are $5. Children 6 & under are free. Gates will open one hour prior to play on both Friday and Saturday.



COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION