Xavier Gold Rush eighth in final NAIA coaches poll of the season

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana climbed one notch Monday to reach a program-record-tying No. 8 in the final NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 of the season.

The Gold Rush (13-9), idle since winning a qualifying tournament for the NAIA National Championship at Chattanooga, Tenn., on April 30, swapped places with Vanguard from last week's poll. Xavier won 6-3 at Vanguard on March 4.

Xavier first reached No. 8 in the March 8 poll and remained there for two additional rankings. XU's men were in the top 10 in five of the final six polls.

This is the first Xavier team to reach the top 10 in a final NAIA poll since women's basketball was No. 4 in 1997-98.

The Gold Rush are in the the top 25 for the 32nd consecutive time dating to April 4, 2007 — that's the fifth longest active streak among NAIA men's teams — and it's the 23rd straight time dating to April 30, 2008, that the Gold Rush are among the top 18. It's the sixth consecutive season that the XU men are among the top 25 in the final poll.

Xavier has qualified for the national tournament for the third consecutive season. The NAIA will announce seedings and pairings for the 24-team event by 5 p.m. Tuesday. The tournament will begin May 17 at Mobile, Ala.

Fresno Pacific received all the first-place votes and is No. 1 in the final poll for the second straight season.

Xavier's women, whose season ended April 30 with a 5-0 loss to Milligan in the semifinals of the qualifying tournament, are out of the top 25 for the fifth consecutive time after 44 straight appearances. The Gold Nuggets collected three points, two more than last week, to tie for 33rd place.

In last season's final polls, Xavier's men were 16th, and the women were 19th. This is the first time since 2003 that the Gold Nuggets are not among the final top 25.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, May 8) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Fresno Pacific (10) 21-2 250 1 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 14-6 242 2 3 Auburn Montgomery 23-3 233 3 4 Oklahoma Christian 21-1 226 4 5 Azusa Pacific 15-6 218 5 6 Westmont 12-5 210 6 7 Point Loma Nazarene 15-7 200 7 8 Xavier 13-9 192 9 9 Vanguard 7-13 183 8 10 Union (Ky.) 17-5 177 10 11 Shorter 12-4 166 12 12 Concordia (Calif.) 8-14 163 11 13 Graceland 11-5 151 13 14 Lindsey Wilson 14-5 147 15 15 William Carey 12-9 143 14 16 Aquinas 24-3 136 16 17 St. Thomas (Fla.) 14-3 119 17 18 Olivet Nazarene 14-3 110 18 19 Lewis-Clark State 10-8 103 19 20 McKendree 20-3 99 20 21 Tennessee Wesleyan 11-6 90 21 22 SCAD Savannah 7-4 84 22 23 Martin Methodist 14-5 82 23 24 Bethany (Kan.) 21-3 61 25 25 Webber International 13-6 60 24 Others receiving votes: Lee (Tenn.) 47, Campbellsville 33, Cumberland 22, Lindenwood 20, Northwood (Fla.) 18, Northwestern Ohio 15, Biola 8, Our Lady of the Lake 7, Georgetown (Ky.) 1.

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, May 8) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Fresno Pacific (11) 18-4 312 1 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (1) 20-3 302 2 3 Auburn Montgomery 23-5 288 3 4 Azusa Pacific 19-4 281 4 5 Oklahoma Christian 17-2 274 5 6 Point Loma Nazarene 19-3 265 6 7 Concordia (Calif.) 14-7 252 7 8 Brenau 10-7 241 8 9 SCAD Savannah 10-2 231 9 10 Vanguard 10-10 222 10 11 Southern Nazarene 14-6 208 11 12 William Carey 14-6 203 12 13 Lee (Tenn.) 9-5 192 13 14 Olivet Nazarene 19-1 176 14 15 Shorter 11-4 173 15 16 Lewis-Clark State 6-14 155 tie-16 17 Indiana Wesleyan 21-1 154 tie-16 18 Martin Methodist 15-5 145 18 19 Lindsey Wilson 13-5 139 19 20 Oklahoma Baptist 9-10 112 20 21 Campbellsville 14-5 111 22 22 St. Thomas (Fla.) 9-9 108 21 23 William Jewell 17-7 96 23 24 Webber International 12-8 79 24 25 Belhaven 14-3 68 25 Others receiving votes: Westmont 49, Milligan 49, McKendree 27, Indiana Southeast 26, Robert Morris (Chicago) 18, Cumberlands 16, Taylor 6, Xavier 3, Marian (Ind.) 3, Georgetown (Ky.) 1, Spring Hill 1, Northwood (Fla.) 1, Mobile 1, Northwestern Ohio 1.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Surging Texas Southern tops Southern Jaguars

As Texas Southern coach Michael Robertson emerged from a postgame huddle Sunday at Lee-Hines Field, he carried three things — his trademark slow-motion stroll, two weekend victories under his belt and the kind of grin money can’t buy. This, Robertson concluded, had been a nice trip to Baton Rouge.

It wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t have to be. It simply served as affirmation that the Tigers can compete with, and defeat, any opponent they face in the upcoming Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament.

Sunday afternoon, TSU scored four runs in the sixth inning and got a standout performance from starting pitcher Abel Flores en route to a 5-3 victory — one that gave the Tigers two wins over Southern on the final weekend of conference play.

Box Score

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Virginia State win PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship

In Division II, Virginia State University in Petersburg, Va., brought home its first-ever division title, defeating Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., by seven strokes. Winston-Salem (N.C.) State University finished alone in third place overall.

Virginia State Head Coach Jeff Hamilton was pleased with his team's performance. "This came all the way down to the wire and my kids played well enough to win," said Hamilton, in his fifth year as head coach. "It is always a battle with teams like Fayetteville State University and Lincoln University. It will be another battle next year, too."

John Cole of Fayetteville State University was the Division II medalist, finishing with a 220 three-day total.

Men's Team Division II
1. Virginia State  (+63) 315-307-305--927
Stephen Genchi 78-77-75--230
Stuart Larus 82-78-77--237
Brian Wood 77-76-78--231
Mike Swope 87-76-80--243
Rashad Hunt 78-81-75--234

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Champions are crowned at PGA Minority Collegiate Championship

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman University's men's team and the University of Texas-Pan American's women's team captured Division I titles Sunday in the 25th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship presented by Brown Capital Management. The 54-hole Championship was contested at PGA Golf Club.

The Bethune-Cookman men's team, which held a six-stroke lead heading into the final round, finished with an 887 total, 12 strokes ahead of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg, Texas. Savannah (Ga.) State University finished in third place overall in the division.

Matthew McKnight led the Wildcats and was also the Division I medalist, firing a final-round 71 for a 1-under-par 215 total.

"The team played solid all week, we kicked it into gear today and it feels so good to win this title," said McKnight, who was playing in his first Minority Championship. "I was able to keep my game steady all week and to do this for my team makes it that much more special."

PGA Professional Scooter Clark, in his first year as head coach at Bethune-Cookman, was proud of his team's accomplishment.

Final-Round Photo Gallery

Second-Round Photo Gallery

Championship field 

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B-CU 'Cats extend MEAC win streak to 43

DAYTONA BEACH -- Senior Joey Munoz couldn't remember the last time Bethune-Cookman lost a baseball game to a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival. Fellow senior Chris Anselmo, a junior college transfer, has never experienced a MEAC loss.

The Wildcats won their 43rd consecutive game against MEAC competition and finished undefeated in the conference for the second straight season Sunday with a 9-4 victory over Delaware State at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

"To say I'm proud of what these guys have accomplished doesn't even begin to tell the story," said B-CU coach Mervyl Melendez, whose squad improved to 32-20 and finished 18-0 in the conference for the second straight year.

Perfect Again: Wildcats Top Delaware State to Go 18-0 in Consecutive Seasons

B-CU Coach Mervyl Melendez

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Wildcats definitely came to play as they wrapped up both the Delaware State series in a sweep, and the MEAC regular season with another perfect 18-0 record, Sunday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Bethune-Cookman extended their current win streak against conference opponents to an NCAA all-time record of 43 games, while making it consecutive perfect seasons in MEAC play. The Wildcats used three big innings to push past the Hornets, coming away with the 9-4 victory on Senior Day.

Donning their pink-tinged uniforms in honor of the Mother’s Day holiday, the Wildcats celebrated their eight outgoing seniors in a ceremony prior to the game. In the spirit of the holiday, ceremonial first pitches were thrown out by the wives of Head Coach Mervyl Melendez and Associate Head Coach Jose Vazquez, Aixa Melendez and Janna Vazquez.

“We’re grateful for their contributions to this program,” Melendez said of his seniors, “there was a whole lot of dedication and time that they have put in to accomplish the things we have accomplished as a team. To say that I am thankful is an understatement.”

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Ex-Warrior baseball standout happy to help WSSU to first-ever title

Coach Kevin Ritsche 

GASTONIA, N.C. — Usually when a college or university starts up an athletic program, their coaches, players and fans simply hope to be competitive. So imagine what Winston-Salem University coaches, players and fans think of their Rams winning a CIAA tournament title in their first season fielding a baseball team in 37 years?

“People are really excited and happy,” said former East Gaston High standout Jordan Graham. “But when we got together last fall, we felt we could have a good team.”

But few could’ve imagined winning the school’s first-ever CIAA championship, which also means the Rams will make their first-ever NCAA Division in two weeks. That is, except for the WSSU players themselves.

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Southern, TSU split doubleheader

Baton Rouge, LA - During his customary postgame huddle with his Southern baseball team, longtime coach Roger Cador was animated Saturday afternoon — more animated than usual, which, for him, is quite a lot.

His voice boomed and echoed off the walls at Lee-Hines Field, where the Jaguars had just split a doubleheader with Texas Southern in their final regular-season Southwestern Athletic Conference series. Cador clenched and pumped his fists as he spoke. He was, if nothing else, passionate about the message he delivered, whatever it was.

But as he walked off the field, Cador said, Saturday wasn’t so bad.

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Howard Bison Dominate UMES Hawks, 15-5

WASHINGTON, DC – Marissa Coats knocked in six runs as the Howard University softball team dominated Maryland Eastern Shore (7-40, 2-13 MEAC) 15-5 in five innings on Sun. May 8 at Banneker Field. The Bison conclude the regular season 16-26 and 8-7 in conference play.

Samantha Gatson collected the win on the mound – fanning two batters and giving up six hits. Coats led the Bison at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and six RBI.

HU started the game strong – erupting for seven runs in the bottom of the opening inning. Coats’ homerun quickly gave the Bison a 3-0 advantage with no outs. Christine Sborz hit a two-run double which drove in Andascha Moore and Rebecca Kirshner. Subsequently, a run by Sborz and Brittany Barker gave Howard a comfortable 7-0 cushion heading into the top of the second.

The Hawks tried to chip into the advantage, but only managed two hits and a run to cut it to 7-1. The Bison exploded with eight more runs in the bottom of the frame – highlighted by Cierra Gordon’s three-run homer to push the spread to 11-1. Gordon, who was held hitless the previous game, went 2-for-3 at bat with a run scored and five RBI. Coats also notched her second homerun of the game in the inning.

In the fourth inning, Charlise Castro homered to give the Hawks their second run. After posting 11 hits in the first three innings, the Bison were not allowed any hits in the bottom of the fourth. UMES added three more runs in the fifth, but fell short as the game ended via mercy rule at the conclusion of the top of the frame.

Howard softball now shits its focus to the upcoming MEAC Tournament held in Ormond Beach, Fla. from May 12-14.

BOX SCORE

By Jamilah Corbitt, Assistant Director of Sports Information
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Norfolk State takes MEAC track titles

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Norfolk State's men's and women's track and field team's won the 2011 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University.

The Norfolk State women tallied 140 points to win their first MEAC Outdoor title, second overall, since 2001. The championship also marks the first time that both men's and women's programs won an outdoor title during the same year since 2001.

Defending champion Hampton finished second with 139 points while North Carolina A&T finished third with 124 points. S.C. State was fourth with 73 points.

Spartan Women Win 1st MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Title Since 2001

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Six event victories Saturday propelled the Spartan women’s track & field team to its first MEAC outdoor championship since 2001 at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.

The Spartan women edged Hampton by one point, giving NSU a sweep of the men’s and women’s outdoor titles – the first time since 2001 a MEAC team has accomplished the feat. That year, it was also the Spartans who achieved that accomplishment.

Coach Ronda Berard was named the MEAC Outdoor Most Outstanding Coach for leading the Spartans to victory.

Final Results

Spartan Men Clinch 6th Straight MEAC Track Sweep

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Norfolk State men’s track & field team breezed to its sixth straight MEAC outdoor championship to pull off a sixth straight indoor-outdoor sweep on Saturday at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.

The Spartans tallied 162 points and scored in 15 of the weekend’s 19 events to top second-place Maryland Eastern Shore by 25 points. NSU men's coach Kenneth Giles was named the MEAC Outdoor Most Outstanding Coach.

The Spartans posted two first-place finishes on Saturday. Sean Holston clocked his best time ever in the 400 meters, running a 46.00 to win the gold medal. Aramis Massenburg followed up his PR in Friday’s 110 hurdle semis with another strong effort in the final, running a 13.89 to take the gold medal in that event.

Final Results

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Student-athletes, managers receive Xavier degrees

An all-time winner, 89 year old Herbert P. Douglas Jr., 
 founder of International Amateur Athletic Association 
(1980) to honor Jesse Owens and XU's only Olympian
(Bronze Medal, Long Jump, 1948 London Olympics)
was awarded the honorary doctor of human letters
at Xavier University 84th Annual Commencement.

NEW ORLEANS -- Twelve student-athletes received degrees Saturday at Xavier University of Louisiana's 2011 commencement at Lakefront Arena.

Also graduating were three student managers employed by the athletics department.
Student-athletes graduating were:

* Devin Emile Andrew, Harvey, La. (Vandebilt Catholic and Karr high schools), men's basketball, bachelor of arts

* Ashley Jennise Broden, Baton Rouge, La. (Baton Rouge Magnet), women's cross country, doctor of pharmacy

* Landon E. Bussie, Baltimore, Md. (Woodlawn), men's basketball, bachelor of science

* Melissa Lauren Tshepi DeLoach, Fort Washington, Md. (Bishop McNamara), women's tennis, bachelor of science

* Yuliem Dominguez, Destrehan, La. (Destrehan High School), women's tennis, bachelor of science

* Ebony Kashim Harding, Baton Rouge, La. (Baton Rouge Magnet), women's cross country, doctor of pharmacy

* Danielle Christine Jones, Baton Rouge, La. (Episcopal), women's basketball and volleyball, bachelor of science

* Colleen Tracy McArthur, Marietta, Ga. (Pace Academy), women's tennis, bachelor of arts

* Brittany Marie Powell, Milwaukee, Wis. (Divine Savior Holy Angels), women's basketball, bachelor of arts

* Mikhail Jeffrey Vaval, New Orleans (Da Le Salle), men's tennis, bachelor of science

* Erin Whitney Vincent, The Woodlands, Texas (Oak Ridge), women's volleyball, bachelor of science

* Stacey Ann Windon, Prairieville, La. (Redemptorist), women's cross country, bachelor of arts.
Student managers graduating were:

* Tamorah Marie Hawthorne, men's basketball, bachelor of science

* Valencia Latrice Johnson, women's basketball, bachelor of arts

* Mark C. Raymond Jr., men's and women's tennis, bachelor of science.

Bussie, Jones, McArthur, Powell and Vaval completed degree requirements in December. Vincent graduated cum laude. Jones -- who graduated summa cum laude and with honors in English, history, chemistry and biology -- will attend medical school at Johns Hopkins University beginning in August.

Herbert Douglas, an XU men's track and field standout from the early 1940s, was one of three recipients of honorary degrees. Douglas received a doctor of humane letters.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Johnson Homers Twice and Pitches One-Hitter in Howard's Final Home Series

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senior Emily Johnson led the Howard softball team in their series opener against Maryland Eastern Shore, knocking out two home runs and holding UMES (7-39, 2-12 MEAC) to one hit to land HU (16-24, 7-7 MEAC) the 9-1 win.

Johnson opened and closed the first game with a home run and went 3-for-4 at the plate and tallied 3 RBI. Shortstop Rebecca Kirshner also came up big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3.

Kirshner also tacked on 3 RBI of her own in HU’s game-defining third inning on a triple, where she scored Johnson, centerfielder Lorae Robinson – both of which reached base on bunt singles – as well as Marisa Coats. Prior to Kirshner’s triple, second baseman Trina Kindred led off the inning with a double and scored on Johnson’s bunt. Kirshner and Ciera Gordon scored the final two runs of the six-run inning.

After being on pace to landing her first no-hitter of the season, UMES spoiled Johnson’s run on the mound with their first hit of the game in the fifth inning. In the same inning, UMES scored their lone run of the game on the single, error and a wild pitch.

In all, Johnson finished the opening game with six strikeouts allowed one hit, one run and zero walks in her 5.2 innings of work.

In game two, Robinson got Howard on the board first with a grand slam, putting the Lady Bison up 4-0 in the second inning. Robinson’s grand slam came in back-to-back series as she blasted one last weekend against Morgan State. Robinson went on to notch two additional hits in the remainder of the game.

Despite leading UMES four runs, the Lady Bison spent the rest of the game playing catch up to their MEAC opponent after allowing eight runs in the third inning. The Lady Bison rallied two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth, but were unable to overcome UMES’s lead. Howard came up one run short as they dropped the game, 9-8.

Seniors Carly Martin and Johnson split the mound and each allowed five hits. Martin walked one, struck out two and was credited with the loss. Johnson struck out three batters and gave up two runs in her four innings in the circle.

Freshman Brittany Barker, senior Christine Sborz and Kirshner were notable performers at the plate in the loss, posting a two hits a piece.

The Lady Bison softball team will look to take the series against the Lady Hawks tomorrow at noon in their final game of the season. Visit www.howard-bison.com for more information on the Howard softball team.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
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Livingstone cross country/track and field student-athlete scores perfect 4.0

Winnie Chepchumba
3-Time All-CIAA Track and Field

For some young adults, going to college out of state would be too difficult. Try out of continent.

Winnie Chepchumba, 24, is from Kenya in East Africa. But for the past four years she didn’t let missing her family stop her from working hard to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

When she marches into Alumni Memorial Stadium this morning with fellow members of the Class of 2011, she’ll do so as salutatorian and with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

“I feel great about being the salutatorian,” Chepchumba said. “I’m very proud of my accomplishments.”

Chepchumba transferred to Livingstone College after one year at Central Connecticut State University. She left Central Connecticut because it was just too cold for her in New England. Even though Salisbury offered a much warmer climate, Chepchumba wasn’t sure Livingstone would be a good fit at first.

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Howard University Softball Salutes Senior Class

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Saturday, May 7 the Howard softball team will honor four of their graduating seniors in the team’s season finale against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent Maryland-Eastern Shore. Playing in their final home game of their career are seniors Jessica Hurston, Emily Johnson, Carly Martin and Christine Sborz.

Jessica Hurston (Pitcher, Wallingford, Conn., Mark T. Sheean H.S.)
Despite sitting out her senior season as a result of injury, Hurston has posted a colorful career as a member of the Howard softball team. In her freshman year she made 14 appearances on the mound and started in half of those appearances. She posted a 4-2 record in her first year with the Bison and garnered a save. Also in her first year, she posted a career-best of 29 strikeouts and by the end of her junior season she tallied 62 in total. Entering into her senior season she generated a 13-13 record, pitched 147.0 innings and garnered 19 starts in the circle. At the plate Hurston recorded a 0.393 career batting average, and recorded another career best in her freshman year with a .500 batting average in her 20 games of play.

Emily Johnson (Pitcher/OF, Jacksonville, Fla., Paxon School for Advanced Studies)
Entering into her final season with the Lady Bison, Johnson recorded 99 hits, 61 RBI, successfully stole 17-of-21 bases, scored 81 runs and boasted a 0.314 batting average. In her first three seasons she tallied 16 doubles, four triples and 11 home runs. Her junior year proved to be a breakout season in the pitcher’s circle as she delivered a 2.77 ERA, posted a career-high of three saves, which ranked her No. 28 in the nation, and won 7-of-10 games that she started. In that year she pitched 96 innings and struck out 110 batters. During her senior year Johnson has been stellar at the plate and on the mound as she struck out the most batters in a game for the Lady Bison this season with 10 against Bowie State (March 30, 2011) and is currently on an 11-game hitting streak, marking the longest streak of the year for the Bison. In her last year she led the Howard in batting average (.415), slugging percentage (.732), on base percentage (.468), triples (2), homers (5), walks (10), and also in pitching with ERA (4.99) and batters struck out (60).

Carly Martin (Pitcher/OF, Hanover, Md., Seton Keough H.S.)
As one of Howard’s leaders on the mound, Martin started in 49 games, made 74 appearances, and produced 23 wins throughout her career. Martin’s senior season came with many successes, notably when she recorded a 0.00 ERA and struck out three batters in HU’s 6-0 win over George Mason, making her the first Bison to bring forth a shutout win in the 2010-11 season. Martin was also recognized as the MEAC Pitcher of the Week (April 4-April 10) for tallying a 1.00 ERA against Coppin State and she went on to tie a then-season-best of four strikeouts for the fourth time. A day later against Coppin State she broke her season-best in strikeouts and took down an astounding seven batters. To date the senior has totaled 164 strikeouts and leads the Bison with most wins this season with eight.

Christine Sborz (Catcher, McLean, Va., Bishop Ireton H.S./Brevard C.C.)
After transferring to Howard her junior year, Sborz has posted 55 runs, 34 RBI, 93 hits and generated an honorable .314 batting average. During her senior year she posted a remarkable 14 doubles – the most posted by a Bison this season – a triple and two homers. Her .326 batting average earned her the No. 5 ranking on the team and she is currently slated third on the team in hits this year with 43, and is ranked fourth on the team in slugging percentage (.492) and runs scored (19). Sborz also tabbed a season-high of three hits on two occasions, first against Bowie State on March 30, 2011 and again against George Mason on April 6, 2011. Currently, Sborz is third on the team with most games with multiple hits (12). As the anchor behind the plate, Sborz has posted a 98.3 fielding percentage, slating her second-best for the Bison in that category, and has also caught 10 runners stealing.

By Tiffany White, Sports Information Assistant
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It's Official! Clemon Johnson Resigns to Coach Division I FAMU

After four seasons at the helm of the University of Alaska Fairbanks men's basketball team, head coach Clemon Johnson is stepping down to take a Division I head coaching job at his alma mater, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).

Johnson finishes with a 28-74 overall record with the Nanooks (NCAA Division II).

Alaska fell just short of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference playoffs this season after finishing 8-17 (5-13 GNAC). He also recruited and coached the 2010-11 Ron Lenz National Player of the Year, Parrish West.

"The best part of my job is watching student-athletes go on to distinguished careers and seeing staff members pursue their dreams and move on to exciting professional opportunities,” Alaska Director of Athletics Forrest Karr said. “I couldn't be happier for Clem and his family."

Johnson played for FAMU from 1974-1978, during which time he set rebounding records for a single game (25), a season (412) and a career (1,494). Those records still stand, and he still ranks in the top-twenty in scoring with 1,381 points.

“The opportunity to return home is another blessed moment in my life,” Johnson said. “The departure from UAF is a bittersweet moment. I felt the incoming class and the returning players would recreate the stir heard during earlier years in the GNAC.

“But coming home to Florida A&M University allows me to continue my growth in my desired profession on another level. The past four years has been a great learning experience for my coaching and life development. The athletic staff, my coaching staff and administrators have provided guidance, patience, encouragement and knowledge.”



FAMU Head Basketball Coach Clem Johnson
(Photos courtesy of University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics)

After graduating from FAMU with a degree in economics, Johnson was drafted to the NBA by the Portland Trailblazers in the second round of the 1978 draft. He played 761 professional games with four different teams, including the Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers and Seattle Supersonics.

Johnson retired from the NBA in 1988 and went on to play five years of professional basketball in Italy.

He then began coaching at the high school level in Florida before taking on a coaching internship with the Atlanta Hawks in 2006 and eventually making his way to Fairbanks the next year.

Last season, FAMU finished 12-20 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). They made the MEAC tournament, but lost 87-85 to Maryland Eastern Shore in the first round.

Alaska's head coaching position is posted on UAKjobs.com, NCAA.org and on various college coaching websites. The position will remain posted through Tuesday, May 17. A final decision will be announced by the end of May.

“It is with this presentation of support that I move forward confident of the job I retired for 18 years ago,” Johnson said. “I will always be grateful to Fairbanks and UAF.”

Courtesy University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletics

Author: Nick Steyn

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XU's Taylor selected NAIA and GCAC Player of the Week

Zach Taylor

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Zach Taylor was selected NAIA Men's Tennis Player of the Week for April 25-May 1. He also won a similar honor from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

Taylor, a junior from Monroe, La., and a graduate of St. Frederick High School and Ventura College, won 38 of 47 games to help the Gold Rush win both its dual matches in a qualifying tourna
ment at Chattanooga, Tenn., for the NAIA National Championship. Taylor and Hassan Abbas, the NAIA's 15th-ranked doubles team, defeated Martin Methodist's Vinicius Santos — the TranSouth Athletic Conference Player of the Year — and Juan Suarez 8-0 in the championship dual, and Taylor put the Gold Rush ahead to stay with his 6-1, 6-3 victory against Renato Castro.

"Our men had never been in the top 10 or beaten a top-10 team before Zach started playing for us this year," said eighth-year XU Coach Alan Green. "He has been a difference-maker."

Taylor, 10-10 in singles and 15-7 in doubles this season, is the first Xavier athlete to win an NAIA national player-of-the-week award since Brittany Powell (women's basketball) did it for Jan. 18-24, 2010. This is the first season of the NAIA's weekly tennis awards. The GCAC award is Taylor's third this season.

XU's men, 13-9 and ranked ninth, will compete in the NAIA National Championship at Mobile, Ala., from May 17-21.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Florida A&M track and field team gets boost from Rattlers' football players

Brian Tyms wanted to be a better basketball player in high school, so he ran track at Fort Lauderdale's Dillard High School. Hundreds of miles away, Jeremy Tillman figured that being on the Brandon High School track team would improve his football game.

Both Tyms and Tillman are now wide receivers on the Florida A&M football team, and not surprisingly, they're on the Rattlers' track and field team as well. Obviously, they want the cardiovascular advantage that running and jumping gives them, but their reason for being on the team runs a little deeper.

They're there because of pride and a desire to help the Rattlers to at least a top-five finish at this weekend's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championships. Tillman's specialty is the sprints, and Tyms competes in the high jump.



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ASU women taste first NCAA action today at Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Alabama State women's golf team is one of 72 teams competing in three NCAA regionals throughout the country today. And while teams such as Alabama, UCLA and Southern California dream of winning a national championship, the local golfers are happy making history with their first NCAA appearance.

"I saw the list of the schools that are going to regionals and they are the top schools in the NCAA," Alabama State freshman Amelie Buhl said. "I think it's a great opportunity for us to play in the same group. They're really good schools. I don't have any expectations for us. We've already achieved our goal."

A team comprised largely of first- and second-year players earned a bid to an NCAA regional by capturing the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship in Louisiana in mid-April. A week later, the Hornets made history again by winning the National Women's Collegiate Golf Championship...

Hornet Golf Teams in National Tournaments This Week

The Alabama State women's and men's golf teams will compete for national championships this week, both in the state of Florida.

The 2011 SWAC Women's Golf Champion Lady Hornets will make their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament and will play in the East Regional in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The men's team, runners-up in the SWAC Tournament for the third straight year, will compete in the 25th annual PGA Minority Golf Championship in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

“It's time to just relax and play in control,” head coach Gary Grandison said. “We'll strive to represent the school well, and represent the community well.”

The women's golf team will be one of 24 teams in the East Regional. The LPGA International's Legends Course (par 72, 6,271 yards) will challenge the teams in the three-day, 54-hole tournament.

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XU degree for Olympic medalist — 71 years after enrolling

"It's a storybook ending. Can you believe it? Xavier really started my path in life. I learned academics there. I learned how to run. And I learned religion." — Herbert Douglas

NEW ORLEANS — Closure is coming this weekend for Herbert Douglas.

Douglas, 89 years old and Xavier University of Louisiana's only Olympic medalist, will receive an honorary degree during XU's 84th commencement at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lakefront Arena.

"It's a storybook ending," Douglas said. "Can you believe it? Xavier really started my path in life. I learned academics there. I learned how to run. And I learned religion."

Douglas arrived at Xavier in the fall of 1940 after being recruited to compete for future hall-of-famer Ralph Metcalfe's men's track and field program. Douglas excelled — in 1941 he set a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship-meet record of 23 feet, 11 inches in the outdoor long jump, and in 1942 he teamed with William Morton, Clarence Doak and Howard Mitchell to make Xavier the first HBCU (historically black college or university) to win a relay at the Penn Relays. The quartet won the 440-yard relay in 41.7 seconds.

But the demands of World War II forced Douglas to leave XU in 1942 after two years. His coach, Metcalfe, left Xavier after the fall 1941 semester to join the U.S. Army. Douglas returned home one semester later — not to enlist, but to help at his father's Pittsburgh parking garage.

"My father had been blind for several years and needed help," Douglas said. "He was losing employees to the military and to war-related industries. He had a 24-hour garage, and he could not find enough reliable workers. I wanted so much to stay at Xavier, but the circumstances just wouldn't allow me."

After the war Douglas returned to college — but at his hometown University of Pittsburgh, where he competed in football ("I scored a touchdown against Notre Dame," he said pridefully) and in track, where he set a school record in the long jump (24-4.88) which lasted 23 years. He received a bachelor's degree from Pitt in 1948 and a master's in 1950.

He long-jumped 24-9 to win bronze at the 1948 Olympics in London and plans to return to London for the Olympics next year.

Douglas joined Schieffelin & Company (now Schieffelin & Somerset) in 1963 where he became the third African-American to reach the level of vice-president of a major North American corporation.

"I have been blessed in so many ways," Douglas said.

Front row, left: Xavier University of Louisiana men's track and field standout
Herbert Douglas in 1942. Also in the front row is Edward Culp. In the back
 row, from left: Howard Mitchell, Clarence Doak, Coach Giles Wright and
 William Morton.  Wright replaced Ralph Metcalfe after the fall 1941 semester.

According to the U.S. Olympic Committee, Douglas is the fourth-oldest living U.S. track and field Olympic medalist. Three other medalists from the 1948 U.S. team — sprinter Cliff Bourland and shot-putters Jim Delaney and Wilbur Thompson — are older.

Also receiving honorary XU degrees Saturday will be businesswoman and philanthropist Camille Hanks Cosby, BET Holdings CEO and chair Debra Lee. Urban League CEO and former New Orleans mayor Marc H. Morial will be the keynote speaker.

The honorary degree is far from a take-him-off-the-shelf-and-dust-him-off moment for Douglas. Next Tuesday he'll be back at his alma mater for a dinner he helped plan as a centennial salute to African-American athletes at Pitt.

"All the heavy hitters will be there," Douglas said. "Hugh Green, Tony Dorsett, Roger Kingdom, Larry Fitzgerald, Charles Smith . . . and Bob Costas will be the emcee."

Officials at the Penn Relays, Douglas said, want him to help plan a fundraising dinner within the next year. And there will be more projects.

"When will he really retire? That's a good question," said Douglas' wife, Minerva. "I would say never. He's like that (Energizer) bunny. He just keeps going. He finishes one thing, and then he moves on to another. He gets involved in a lot of things."

Douglas swims every other day in an indoor pool at his Philadelphia condominium. "I can't walk or jog for exercise any more because of my knees," he said. "But I'm doing fine for a guy my age."

The trip to New Orleans and Xavier will be the first for Douglas since 1992, when he attended the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. He and the other honorary recipients will attend a baccalaureate Mass and honors convocation Friday evening at The Barn, then convene to Dooky Chase restaurant for a much-anticipated meal with Xavier officials.

"That's some good Creole food," Douglas said. "You know, Dooky Chase opened the year I got to Xavier, 71 years ago. I couldn't afford it then."

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Jasmine Lytle of New Brunswick is going to Hampton University

Coach David Six

Jasmine Lytle of New Brunswick was looking for a school that showed loyalty. As she battled through a knee injury she suffered last summer, some schools stopped pursuing her.

Hampton University never stopped recruiting the 6-1 forward and that's why she's signing a letter of intent to play for the Virgina college on Thursday.

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore was a close second for Lytle, and Coppin State and Long Island University were among the other schools in the hunt.

Jasmine Lytle scores 1,000th point in New Brunswick loss

Junior slasher LaRhonda Womack erupted for 30 points Monday to lift the South Plainfield High School girls basketball team past New Brunswick, 68-60, on the night Zebras senior Jasmine Lytle scored her 1,000th career point.

Jasmine Lytle Erupts For A Monster Game, 33 pts, 23 rbs, for New Brunswick High

It takes more than one player to win a basketball game, but Jasmine Lytle certainly came close. Despite outscoring the entire Sayreville High School girls basketball team 18-16 in the first half Tuesday night, the New Brunswick High School senior forward needed a boost from a teammate down the stretch.

“She’s a great player, and it’s hard to win games when a girl scores almost as much as your entire team does” Sayreville coach Tara Currie said of Lytle. “She’s an animal who lives off the boards, and we didn’t achieve our goal in limiting her.”

Jasmine Lytle of New Brunswick signs to play basketball for Hampton

Jasmine Lytle, a Second Team All-Middlesex County selection from New Brunswick, will sign a letter of intent Thursday to play basketball for Hampton University.

"Words can't explain how happy I am to have this opportunity," said Lytle, who plans to major in either business or psychology. "Hampton has been there with me since the beginning of the process and I really like their style of play. They give me a good chance to better myself as a player and academically."

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Fang Mitchell gets three more years with Coppin State University

Legendary Coach Ron "Fang" Mitchell

At 5 o'clock on a fall morning in 2009, Coppin State University basketball coach Fang Mitchell drove then-sophomore Michael Harper to the hospital for surgery on his wrist. Harper, from Milwaukee, appreciated the show of support — then and now.

When Harper finishes his college career next season for the Eagles, Mitchell will be there for him again, just like Harper would want it.

"If they were bringing in a new coach in my fourth year, it would mean a whole new system, a new personality, a different look on the team," Harper said. "Him not coming back would have been horrible."

After two months of uncertainty, Mitchell is coming back for his 26th season and more. Francine Stokes McElveen, the senior advisor to the president for legal affairs, acknowledged Tuesday that Coppin has given Mitchell a new, three-year contract that will allow the legendary 63-year-old coach to finish his career at...

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A Day in the Life of 2011 FAMU Graduate

Videographer: FAMUTUBE1887; A Day in the Life of Gregory Boler Jr., FAMU Rattlers football player and a 2011 FAMU graduate from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Watch as he makes his family proud. This is a Day in his life...


Videographer: FAMUTube1887; On Saturday, April 30, 2011, nearly 1,400 candidates graduated from Florida A&M University (FAMU). These are the students who started classes in 2007 -- the same year Dr. James H. Ammons became president of FAMU. However, before they receive their diplomas, some graduating seniors share their thoughts on Dr. Ammons and his tenure at FAMU.

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FAMU's Holcomb glad to be a Niner

Jacksonville and Green Bay promised they'd take him in the NFL Draft on Saturday. Neither one called. So Florida A&M cornerback Curtis Holcomb dozed off. It might have been because he didn't think his name would be called or he was a little worn out from shooting hoops earlier in the day to calm his nerves.

"I was trying to be patient throughout the whole process," said Holcomb, who eventually was selected by the San Francisco 49ers. He was so into his nap that he might have missed the call from the 49ers if it weren't for his best friend, who had visited from Jacksonville to be with him for the draft.

"My best friend called me and it was a surreal moment," said Holcomb on Sunday. "I didn't even know how to take that but it was a blessing."


Videographer: FAMUTUBE1887; An interview with 2011 FAMU Rattlers/S.F.49ers draftee, Cornerback Curtis Holcomb, a native of Miami, Florida and graduate of Southridge High School.

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Southern University: Living her dream

Sandy Pugh, Head Women's Basketball Coach
Interim Athletics Director, Southern University

As it turns out, Jessica Thomas ended up where she wanted to be all along.

The senior Northwest girls basketball standout inked a letter of intent to play basketball at Southern University next season Tuesday in the Northwest High library with her family and Lady Raiders coach Latosha Malone on hand.

"It's amazing to be where I am because of all the hard work I've put in and coach Malone helping me out a lot on everything I had to do to get to this point," Thomas said. "I had to do a lot of things, keep my grades maintained and stay focused in school and not worry about anything else."

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S.C. State tennis teams get ‘reward’ with Florida rematch

Orangeburg, S.C. - Visit Hardeep Judge's office at South Carolina State University and there's an impressive display of championship glory starting at his desk.

Lined up in order on each side are 13 of the 14 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title plaques won by both the men's and women's tennis teams during the head coach's tenure. Other numerous Most Outstanding Coach awards are also posted on the walls.

Given the program's championship resume, Judge was hoping Tuesday for a more favorable seeding for his teams when the NCAA released the tournament brackets. He was especially optimistic for the Lady Bulldogs, who earned key out-of-conference wins this season over West Virginia and North Carolina-Wilmington, won a seventh straight conference title and have a player, Daria Sekerina, listed in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Top 125 rankings.

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