SAVANNAH, Georgian -- It’s been just another week on the practice field for the Savannah State Tigers.
While other conferences hold their tournaments around the country, SSU has already locked up a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Last weekend, Savannah State claimed their first ever Mid Eastern Athletic Conference title up in Norfolk, Virginia. Savannah State defeated eight-time MEAC Champ Bethune-Cookman 1-0 to claim the title.
“It was an amazing win and it’s an honor to be part of history here at Savannah State,” said junior Kyle McGowin.
It was Savannah State’s first conference baseball title since 1999, when they claimed the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crown when the school was still competing in NCAA Division II.
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Saturday, May 25, 2013
NCAA VP Robert Vowels could be next UDM athletic director
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| Robert Vowels (bio) B.A., Duke; J.D., NCCU |
The university announced in early March that four candidates would be brought in for interviews in April and May. Vowels, Michael Hermann, Jay DeFruscio and interim AD Jason Horn were the four candidates.
Vowels was recommended for the job by UDM’s search committee but it was unclear whether a deal was finished, said one person familiar with the situation. UDM president Antoine M. Garibaldi hires the AD, and he was not available for comment. A second person familiar with the athletic department told the Free Press that Vowels was in line to get the job.
Vowels works in the NCAA’s national office as vice president for student-athlete affairs. He was hired in 2007. He was previously the commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Vowels joined the SWAC in 2003. He also was commissioner of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2000-02.
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ECSU Sharpless takes talents to NBA scouts
BROOKLYN, New York -- From competing on area barnstorming tours with ACC
players to highlight dunks posted on YouTube, Angelo Sharpless might have
already arrived in many people’s eyes.
“I always had a chip on my shoulder in where I believe I belong on that stage,” Sharpless said. “I’m representing the guys that are Division II, the CIAA, the guys from Elizabeth City, and people that don’t get the exposure coming from small towns.”
But arriving at his first-ever NBA Draft combine,
held at Brooklyn on Wednesday, there was little fanfare for Elizabeth City
State’s all-everything college basketball star.
Even Sharpless’ school was only known as ‘Elizabeth’
to NBA scouts.
“I always had a chip on my shoulder in where I believe I belong on that stage,” Sharpless said. “I’m representing the guys that are Division II, the CIAA, the guys from Elizabeth City, and people that don’t get the exposure coming from small towns.”
The obscurity that follows the CIAA Player of the
Year on such a high stage hasn’t slowed Sharpless on the road to a potential
professional basketball career, one he hopes will include
being selected in the
June 27 NBA Draft, also being held by the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays
Center.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Arizona basketball: Southern added to schedule
TUCSON, Arizona -- Arizona Wildcats have completed their nonconference schedule for next season by inviting Southern University to McKale Center for a Dec. 19 game.Southern went 23-10 and won the SWAC tournament last season. The Jaguars were a No. 16 seed in the NCAA tournament, losing 64-58 to top-seeded Gonzaga in Salt Lake City.
The Wildcats' nonconference schedule includes four previously announced games that are part of multiyear series (at home against Texas Tech and UNLV, and on the road at Michigan and San Diego State).
Arizona will also play in the NIT Season Tip-Off, which includes two home games and a chance to play two more games in New York during Thanksgiving week.
The rest of the games were contracted for one time only, though NAU is a perennial opponent and Long Beach State is returning to McKale for the second straight season on a single-game basis.
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Tennille Adams Named Head Women's Basketball Coach at Howard University
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Howard University Director of Athletics Louis "Skip" Perkins named Tennille Adams as the new head women's basketball coach. Adams comes to Howard with an impressive record, including an integral role in six double-figure winning seasons at Northwestern University and a notable coaching career with Big Ten, Patriot League and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Division I institutions.
As a student-athlete at Arkansas, Adams was a member of the 1997-98 Final Four team and the 1998-99 WNIT Championship team. On an individual level, Adams was ranked in the top five post players in the nation and as one of the top 50 seniors by Blue Star. Adams completed her matriculation with a bachelor's of art in English.
Adams will inherit a program with strong reputation of winning, including three consecutive championship game appearances, two invitations to the WNIT (2011 and 2012), the first-ever Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) appearance (2013), and two 20+ wins seasons.
"We were in search of a coach that understood Howard University's legacy of academic excellence, possessed the characteristics to maintain the program's distinction, while making the Lady Bison a principal force in the MEAC and beyond," Perkins said.
Adams hangs up her Northwestern Wildcats purple and white, for the Bison blue and white after five seasons under the direction of head women's basketball coach Joe McKeown.
While at Northwestern, Adams was named defensive coordinator (2012-13), offensive coordinator (2011-12), while being instrumental in Northwestern's 10th best turnaround season, a fourth place finish in the BCS (2009), back-to-back WNIT appearances (2009-10 and 2010-11), and the development of two First Team All-Big Ten student-athletes, one Third Team All-Big Ten student-athlete, and one Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection.
"I am extremely humbled and honored for this opportunity," said Adams. "I would like to thank my new Director of Athletics Louis "Skip" Perkins and the Bison family for believing in my ability to lead the women's basketball program here at Howard University. It is privilege to represent an institution with such rich tradition and history as well as return to the MEAC."
No stranger to the District of Columbia, Adams was the assistant women's basketball coach at American University. Adams was responsible for recruiting as well as key involvement on post player development and the point person for academic affairs and external relations with the basketball program.
Prior to her stint at American, Adams spent two years with the Aggies of North Carolina A&T State University as an assistant to the legendary Patricia Cage-Bibbs, Adams established her administrative foundation. Adams, a standout at the University of Arkansas, began her coaching career in 2004 as an assistant at Lon Morris Junior College in Jacksonville, Texas.
Adams will inherit a program with strong reputation of winning, including three consecutive championship game appearances, two invitations to the WNIT (2011 and 2012), the first-ever Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) appearance (2013), and two 20+ wins seasons.
For more information on Howard University women's basketball, visit the official athletics website at www.howard-bison.com.
By Ariel V. Germain, Assistant Director for Athletic Media Relations
Saint Augustine's University Shatters 29-Year Division II Men's 4x100 Relay Record at NCAA Championships
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The St. Aug 4x100 Relay Team: From Left
to Right - Taffawee Johnson, Burkheart Ellis, Jr.,
Ramaan Ansley, and Jermaine Jones
|
The St. Aug foursome of Ramaan Ansley (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.), Taffawee Johnson (Jr./St. Ann, Jamaica), Burkheart Ellis, Jr. (Jr./Raleigh, N.C.) and Jermaine Jones (So./Wilmington, N.C.) shattered the 29-year old mark held by Abilene Christian, which ran 39.20 in 1984. The time also broke the facility record of 39.88 at the DeRose Thunderbowl.
The Falcons ran the 14th fastest time in the United States this year. They easily won Heat 2 in the preliminaries to advance to Saturday's final, which starts at 7:20 p.m. eastern standard time. The Falcons entered the championship meet as the top-ranked 4x100 team in Division II.
The 4x100 relay team set the tone for the day. Dane Hyatt (Jr./Goodwill, Jamaica) won Heat 2 of the men's 400 meter dash in a facility-record time of 45.78 seconds, which was fastest among 400 meter qualifiers. Josh Edmonds (Jr./Jacksonville, Fla.), Ellis, Jr. and James Quarles (Jr./Washington, D.C.) also qualified in 400.
Jones was the victor in Heat 1 of men's 100 meter dash in 10.26. He qualified for Saturday's finals along with Johnson and Daniel Jameison (Fr./Windsor, Conn.). Elhadji Mbow (Jr./Dakar, Senegal) qualified for the men's 400 hurdles a time of 51.35, second-best among qualifiers.
On the women's side, Kelly Shaw (Sr./Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) wins Heat 2 of the women's 400 meter dash in 53.26. Nicketa Bernard (Sr./Westmoreland, Jamaica) and Cherrisse Lynch (So./Bridgetown, Barbados) also qualified for Saturday's finals.
The championship meet continues Friday, May 24. It will be shown live on the Internet at 7:30 p.m. eastern standard time on ncaa.com and saintaugfalcons.com. For live results, click on pttiming.com and ncaa.com.
COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION
Thursday, May 23, 2013
XU Nuggets miss the mark on opening day of NAIA meet
On the meet's opening day, the Gold Nuggets did not qualify for the semifinals of the 400-meter relay or the 200-meter dash. And Devinn Rolland, an All-America long jumper at this meet as a freshman in 2012, finished near the back of a field of two dozen athletes.
Xavier's 400 relay team of Chelsea James, Rolland, Tramaine Shannon and SiMon Franklin ranked 20th in the preliminaries in 50.10 seconds and missed qualifying for Saturday's final by slightly more than two seconds. XU coach Joseph Moses said his team led early in the race, but a right-hamstring injury to Franklin flared up during Wednesday workouts and prevented the Nuggets from advancing.
"The medical team up here did a great job wrapping her leg tight," Moses said. "I told Monee she didn't have to run, but she wanted to because she's a senior, and this is her last meet."
Rolland, who reached the NAIA's 200 semifinals a year ago, did not qualify this time. She ran 25.34 to rank 14th in the preliminaries, about a third of a second slower than the time she needed to advance.
In the long jump, Rolland ranked 22nd with a best mark of 16 feet, 10 inches. She needed 18-7 to qualify for the final, which Oklahoma Baptist freshman Akela Smith won with a mark of 20-10 on her next-to-last jump in the final.
Franklin will try to run Friday in the 400 preliminaries.
No Xavier men qualified for the meet.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XU Rush match highest-ever ranking, 5th, in postseason poll
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana climbed one place to fifth Tuesday in the NAIA Men's Tennis Postseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
Xavier (15-8) matched its highest-ever rating in an NAIA men's tennis poll. The Gold Rush were fifth in the polls of April 16 and 30 before dropping to sixth on May 6.
It's the third consecutive year that the XU men are in the top 10 of the season's final poll. This is the second straight year that the final poll occurred after the NAIA National Championship. The Gold Rush ranked eighth in 2011 and seventh in 2012.
The Gold Rush became the first XU program to reach the quarterfinals of an NAIA National Championship in consecutive seasons. Vanguard eliminated the Rush 5-2 in that round on Thursday.
Coupled with the Gold Nuggets' No. 3 ranking, it makes Xavier one of two schools — Auburn Montgomery is the other — with both tennis teams in the 2013 postseason top five.
The Gold Rush are in the top 25 for the 50th consecutive time — a streak which began April 4, 2007 — and in the top 10 for the 20th straight time.
By Ed Cassiere, SID
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
Xavier (15-8) matched its highest-ever rating in an NAIA men's tennis poll. The Gold Rush were fifth in the polls of April 16 and 30 before dropping to sixth on May 6.
It's the third consecutive year that the XU men are in the top 10 of the season's final poll. This is the second straight year that the final poll occurred after the NAIA National Championship. The Gold Rush ranked eighth in 2011 and seventh in 2012.
The Gold Rush became the first XU program to reach the quarterfinals of an NAIA National Championship in consecutive seasons. Vanguard eliminated the Rush 5-2 in that round on Thursday.
Coupled with the Gold Nuggets' No. 3 ranking, it makes Xavier one of two schools — Auburn Montgomery is the other — with both tennis teams in the 2013 postseason top five.
The Gold Rush are in the top 25 for the 50th consecutive time — a streak which began April 4, 2007 — and in the top 10 for the 20th straight time.
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By Ed Cassiere, SID
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Nuggets cap stellar season with No. 3 postseason ranking
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana ranked third in the NAIA Women's
Tennis Coaches' Postseason Top 25 Poll announced Tuesday.
The Gold Nuggets (19-8) dropped after three consecutive No. 1 rankings. They entered the NAIA National Championship as the top seed but lost 5-0 to William Carey in the semifinals Friday. The following day, Auburn Montgomery defeated William Carey 5-1 to win its third consecutive championship and 12th in 15 years.
Auburn Montgomery and William Carey ranked 1-2 in the postseason poll. Xavier defeated both in April.
It's the eighth time in nine seasons that the Gold Nuggets appear in the final top 25 of the season.
This is the second consecutive year that the last rating occurs after the NAIA National Championship.
The XU women were 19th in the 2012 postseason poll.
Xavier ranked 13th in the preseason, entered the top 10 on March 5 and remained there for the final seven polls. When the Gold Nuggets climbed from sixth to first on April 16, it was the first time an XU team in any sport was No. 1 in an NAIA coaches poll.
The 2013 Gold Nuggets were the first XU team in any sport to reach the semifinals of an NAIA national tournament.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULA ATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
The Gold Nuggets (19-8) dropped after three consecutive No. 1 rankings. They entered the NAIA National Championship as the top seed but lost 5-0 to William Carey in the semifinals Friday. The following day, Auburn Montgomery defeated William Carey 5-1 to win its third consecutive championship and 12th in 15 years.
Auburn Montgomery and William Carey ranked 1-2 in the postseason poll. Xavier defeated both in April.
It's the eighth time in nine seasons that the Gold Nuggets appear in the final top 25 of the season.
This is the second consecutive year that the last rating occurs after the NAIA National Championship.
The XU women were 19th in the 2012 postseason poll.
Xavier ranked 13th in the preseason, entered the top 10 on March 5 and remained there for the final seven polls. When the Gold Nuggets climbed from sixth to first on April 16, it was the first time an XU team in any sport was No. 1 in an NAIA coaches poll.
The 2013 Gold Nuggets were the first XU team in any sport to reach the semifinals of an NAIA national tournament.
| NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25
Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through end of season)
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By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULA ATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
TSU Tigers Complete Recruiting Class by Adding Four
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State men’s basketball coach Travis Williams has announced the signing
of four additional student-athletes to join the Tigers next season.
Ugo Mmonu
(Decatur, Ga.), Kennedy Eubanks (Clemson, S.C.), Jaleel Queary (Nashville) and
Jaylen Reid (Rockhill, S.C.) join previously inked Jamontae Davis (Nashville),
Jamonte Graham (Nashville), and Rhyan Townes (Memphis) to round out the 2013
recruiting class.
“The goal
was to keep elevating the program in every aspect imaginable, and we did that by
adding the versatility, talent and skill sets these guys bring to the program,”
Williams said. “They all come from very successful programs where they have won
and were key contributors to their teams. They have achieved great academic
accomplishments in the classroom and I am looking forward to them establishing a
great relationship with the coaching staff, university, community, alumni, fans,
and the city of Nashville. We feel that they can add to an already strong
nucleus of returning players.”
A 6-7,
200-pound forward, Mmonu will join the TSU team this fall after a senior year at
Greenforest Christian Academy. During his senior year, Mmonu helped GCA win the
Georgia State Championship in the Class A Private division while seeing playing
time at every position but center. He was also named to Atlanta Journal
Constitution All-Metro Team, GA Sportswriters Team, and All-State team after
averaging 12 points, six rebounds and three assists per contest. His accolades
got him looks from Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech and
Mississippi State, but signed with the Tigers. Mmonu also excelled in the
classroom where he held a 3.5 GPA.
“Ugo is a
proven winner and very multi-talented. He can play multiple positions, either at
the forward or guard, and his athleticism fits our style of play. He can shoot
the three, put it on the floor and finish at the basket. His best basketball
days are ahead of him." Williams said.
Eubanks is a
6-6 wing player who will come to TSU after playing at Jacksonville College in
Texas and being selected by JucoJunction as a top 150 player. Last season, he
averaged 11 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest in leading the Jaguars to a 22-9
record. While attending Pendleton High School in S.C., he was an All-Region and
All-State selection and was runner-up in the state’s North-South All-Star
Tournament Slam Dunk Contest. He also competed on the track and field team while
in high school, taking part in the long, high and triple jump events. Eubanks
sported a strong 3.0 GPA at Jacksonville College and will major in Business
while at TSU.
“Eubanks
will be very versatile for us with his ability to play numerous positions and
fit our style of play, especially considering how we attack in transition on
offense and how we play defense,” Williams said. “He has good size and
athleticism and is very capable of putting the ball on floor, attacking the rim,
and shooting from three. He comes from one of the toughest junior college
leagues in the country, can play a number of positions, and his experience,
leadership, motor, and enthusiasm on the defensive end can really help
us.”
Queary is
another former JUCO player who will join the Tigers next season after attending
junior college at Lawson State in Birmingham, Ala. where he averaged 7.3 points,
3.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds for the Cougars. Coming to TSU will be a homecoming
of sorts for Queary as he starred at Maplewood High School in Nashville for four
seasons. He was a Tennessee Top 50 player according to Max Preps coming out of
high school and was named the District 10-AA MVP and Class AA Metro MVP
following his senior season. Queary stands 6-2 and will play combo guard for the
Tigers this upcoming year.
“I’ve always
admired Jaleel since his days at Maplewood High School and we are really excited
to bring him back home to keep our program moving forward,” Williams said. “He
is a very athletic, strong, tough, and physical guard who is capable of creating
his own shots, or attacking the rim. He can also make plays for himself and his
teammates. He plays with a high motor, loves playing defense and rebounds well
from the guard position which fits the bill of what we are doing here
defensively.”
A
6-7,185-pound forward, Reid hails from Rock Hill High School where he garnered a
three-star rating by ESPN. He earned the ranking by helping head coach Eric
Rollins and the Bearcats to a 16-6 record while averaging 16 points, nine
rebounds, three steals and two assists per contest. He was an All-Area,
All-Region and All-State selection as a senior and represented his school in the
North Carolina – South Carolina All-Star Game. He had received offers from High
Point, Kent State, Austin Peay, Southeast Missouri State, Miami (Ohio),
Jacksonville and Winthrop, but chose to sign with TSU. Reid plans to choose a
major in either business or political science this fall.
“Reid is
versatile, has a tremendous upside, an unbelievable work ethic and passion for
the game. He is a very talented young man with the ability to shoot the three,
score off of the dribble, and attack the basket in half court or transition. His
ability to rebound and play defense are also pluses,” Williams said.
The TSU coaching staff will have a little
over five months to teach the system to the incoming players before the Tigers
tip-off next season in year two under Williams.
COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Former B-CU football coach Alvin Wyatt awarded $771,000.00
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| COACH ALVIN WYATT |
The university fired Wyatt, now 65, two days after the Florida Classic, when the Wildcats suffered a 42-6 defeat to their archrival, Florida A&M. He was replaced by Brian Jenkins, then 39.
B-CU paid Wyatt his $95,000 salary until June 30, 2010, but his contract called for payments to continue another four years, Circuit Judge Terence R. Perkins ruled.
Wyatt had sued for $1.2 million. But the judge wrote that age discrimination, as alleged by Wyatt, was not proven, saying the coach provided “not a shred of evidence” of a discriminatory motive on the part of former President Trudie Kibbe Reed.
Pete Heebner, one of two Daytona Beach attorneys who represented ...
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Former Bethune Cookman-University head football coach Alvin “Shine” Wyatt, Sr. won his breach of contract lawsuit against the Daytona Beach-based school and has been awarded almost $770,000. The decision was announced Wednesday after a non-jury trial that concluded May 17.
There were legal actions filed by longtime professors, the former men’s basketball head coach, former football head coach Wyatt, and a former student who said she was raped by a group of basketball players and that the university tried to cover it up.
CONTINUE READING
Americus-Sumter star athlete Kayla Bowens signs with Albany State
AMERICUS, Georgia — Every signing is a special signing for Americus-Sumter Lady Panther head coach Evelyn Wright. While Wright’s main job is to make her team well-rounded and competitive in GHSA Class AAAA competition, the long-time Lady Panther coach takes great pride when one of her players realizes a dream of playing college basketball. Friday morning’s signing ceremony tugged at the heart strings a little more, however, as Wright watched her granddaughter Kayla Bowens sign her name on the dotted line to continue her basketball career at her grandmother’s alma mater, Albany State University.Bowens is one of very few Lady Panthers to start all four years in Wright’s long tenure as Americus-Sumter’s head lady. Bowens’ unique combination of skilled basketball handling ability along with a sharpshooter’s accuracy made her a very dangerous threat to opposing teams from her first game as a high school player her freshman season. Over her four seasons as a Lady Panther, Bowens was known for her explosive drives to the basket as well as her poised shots from beyond the three point arch.
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Prattville's Ewert signs with Alabama State
PRATTVILLE, Alabama — Daniele Ewert didn’t want much from recruiters.
She wasn’t asking to be treated differently or expected special perks.
The Prattville basketball star simply wanted to be appreciated.
Ewert averaged 18 points and 13.6 rebounds during her senior year to lead the Lions to their longest Class 6A postseason run since 2000. She also became the school’s first female player to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds.
Yet, the college recruiters weren’t beating down the door to secure her John Hancock on the dotted line. Programs such as Faulkner, Grambling and the University of Maine each showed interested, but none were able to close the deal.
Then Alabama State stepped into the picture.
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She wasn’t asking to be treated differently or expected special perks.
The Prattville basketball star simply wanted to be appreciated.
Ewert averaged 18 points and 13.6 rebounds during her senior year to lead the Lions to their longest Class 6A postseason run since 2000. She also became the school’s first female player to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds.
Yet, the college recruiters weren’t beating down the door to secure her John Hancock on the dotted line. Programs such as Faulkner, Grambling and the University of Maine each showed interested, but none were able to close the deal.
Then Alabama State stepped into the picture.
CONTINUE READING
Johnnie Cole's show cause upheld
HOUSTON, Texas -- The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee has upheld a three-year show-cause order for former Texas Southern football coach Johnnie Cole.
Cole was given the order for failing to promote an atmosphere for compliance, and the order prohibits him from all on- and off-campus recruiting activities until October 2015. He contested that finding, but the committee found that the information in the record was enough to uphold the finding of the violation.
The appeal came after the Division I Infractions Committee determined in October 2012 that the school allowed 129 student-athletes in 13 sports in seven academic years to compete and receive financial aid and travel expenses while ineligible. That report found that Cole knowingly allowed a booster to recruit for the program and that former men's basketball coach Tony Harvey provided misleading information during the investigation.
Tourism officials work to keep CIAA in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte tourism officials are off to Virginia to try to keep the CIAA in Charlotte.
CONTINUE READING
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Hayes: I’m not finished working just yet
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Bill Hayes, the soon-to-be 70-year-old athletics director at Winston-Salem State, isn’t going anywhere.
While most in his position would sit back and enjoy a care-free retirement, Hayes is wired a little differently.
“People ask me all the time when I’m going to retire,” Hayes said. “I’ll retire when I’m finished working — and I’m not finished working just yet.”
Hayes, a football coach at heart, says there are a lot more games to be played and he plans on sticking around a little longer. He’ll turn 70 on June 1 but, with a contract extension expected, Hayes is aiming to keep the highly-successful athletics program chugging along.
The Rams have won 14 league titles since moving back into the CIAA in 2010, including the last two in football and the last three in baseball.
CONTINUE READING
While most in his position would sit back and enjoy a care-free retirement, Hayes is wired a little differently.
“People ask me all the time when I’m going to retire,” Hayes said. “I’ll retire when I’m finished working — and I’m not finished working just yet.”
Hayes, a football coach at heart, says there are a lot more games to be played and he plans on sticking around a little longer. He’ll turn 70 on June 1 but, with a contract extension expected, Hayes is aiming to keep the highly-successful athletics program chugging along.
The Rams have won 14 league titles since moving back into the CIAA in 2010, including the last two in football and the last three in baseball.
CONTINUE READING
3 Nuggets are All-America, including Howell on 1st team
 Kourtney Howell |  Brion Flowers |  Amanda Materre |
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's record-setting women's tennis program set another record Monday when the NAIA announced its 2013 All-America team. For the first time in the program's history, the Gold Nuggets have three All-Americans: Kourtney Howell on the first team and Brion Flowers and Amanda Materre on the second team.
Those three helped Xavier finish 19-8 and become first XU team in any sport to reach the semifinals of an NAIA National Championship. The Gold Nuggets were ranked first in the final three coaches polls entering the national tournament, and they repeated as champion of an NAIA unaffiliated group qualifying tournament. The Nuggets on April 16 became the first XU team in any sport to be No. 1 in an NAIA poll.
Howell, a junior from Cypress, Texas, and a graduate of Cypress Woods High School, was 20-11 in singles and, with Flowers as her partner, 23-11 in doubles this season. Howell had a team-leading five singles victories against ranked opponents. Howell is All-America for the second consecutive year; she was second team in 2012. She is the program's first first-team All-American since Anastesia Opata in 2009.
Flowers, from Lafayette, La., and a graduate of St. Thomas More High School, is the first XU women's tennis freshman to earn NAIA All-America. She was 10-17 in singles and 23-11 in doubles. She and Howell were the USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional doubles runner-up. It was the first time the Gold Nuggets produced a finalist in that fall event. Flowers and Howell also reached No. 1 in the ITA NAIA doubles rankings of April 17.
Materre, a sophomore from Richmond, Texas, and a graduate of Westside High School, was 19-5 in singles and 15-10 in doubles. She led the Gold Nuggets in singles and overall winning percentage and closed the season with eight consecutive singles victories.
The ITA will announce its NAIA All-Americans after compiling its final singles and doubles rankings.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorXULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XU All-Americans: Didavi 1st team again, Soifer 2nd team
 Loic Didavi |  Nikita Soifer |  Kyle Montrel |
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's tennis program set several precedents Monday with the announcement of the 2013 NAIA All-America team. Loic Didavi is the first Gold Rush player to be make the first team twice. Nikita Soifer, who's on the second team, is the first Gold Rush sophomore to earn second team or higher. Kyle Montrel, an honorable-mention All-American, is the program's first freshman to be cited.
Those three helped Xavier finish 15-8, repeat as champion of an NAIA unaffiliated group qualifying tournament and reach the quarterfinals of NAIA National Championship for the second consecutive year. The Gold Rush were ranked sixth in the NAIA entering the national tournament and reached a program-record fifth in two April polls.
Didavi, a senior from Cotonou, Benin, and a graduate of Lycée Jean Dautet, La Rochelle, was 16-6 in singles and 18-5 in doubles this season and was chosen ITA NAIA National Senior Player of the Year. Didavi is All-America for the fourth straight year — he was second team in 2011 and 2010 at Auburn Montgomery.
Didavi, from Beer Sheva, Israel, and a graduate of Hof Hasharon School, was 17-11 in singles and 21-6 in doubles. He led the Gold Rush in doubles victories. Soifer and Viktor Svoboda won 15 of their final 16 doubles matches this season, nine against ranked NAIA schools.
Montrel, from Atlanta, Ga., and a graduate of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, was 16-4 in singles and 18-4 in doubles. He led the Gold Rush in singles and doubles winning percentage and, with Didavi as his partner, won his first eight doubles matches. In March he became the first XU freshman to reach the top 30 in the ITA NAIA singles rankings.
The ITA will announce its NAIA All-Americans after compiling its final singles and doubles rankings.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS
UAPB Golden Lions Announce Spring Signings
PINE BLUFF, Arkansas -- Although head coach George Ivory and his University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions basketball team are in the off season, that doesn't mean there isn't work to be done. One Year removed from an NCAA post season ban, when most teams would have to rebuild, Ivory and his Golden Lions hoop squad have literally reloaded.Last year, the Golden Lions finished tied for second in the SWAC standings with a 15-3 regular season conference record and will go into the 2013-14 season with a 9-0 home court record and will look to add the that total.
Gone from a year ago are seniors Terrell Kennedy (13.9 pts. /avg.) First team All- SWAC, Lazabian Jackson (11.9 pts. /avg.) and Mitch Anderson (7.5 pts. /avg.).
“We met some areas of concern, we brought in some big athletic, scores we got everything we needed to be very competitive this year”, said head coach George Ivory. “We will have more size in the paint. I will be looking for some returning leadership to help with the team chemistry”, added Ivory.
2013 Spring Signings
Ghiavonni Robinson- 6'3 175lbs – Guard - Leflore High School
Hometown- Itta Bena, MS
Stats: Avg. 23pts/g 8reb/g 10asst/g 5stl/g 2 blk/g
He is Honor Student with a 20 on his ACT.
JoVaughn Love – 6'8 210lbs – Seminole Community College
Hometown - Pine Bluff, AR
Stats: Avg. 15.0pts/g 7.0 Rebs/g 2.0 Asst/g 3.0 blks/g
JoVaughn is a former Pine Bluff High standout. After a stellar high school career he took his talents to Seminole CC where he starred for the past 2 years there. Jovaughn is a talented player who can knock down the 3 pointer as well as attack the basket off the dribble.
David Tillman- 6'9-235 lbs - Fort Bend Travis High School
Hometown- Sugarland, TX
Stats: Avg. 8pts/ 8rebs/ 4blks
David was a member of the 5A State Championship Basketball Team. He played alongside the Harrison twins who signed to play collegiately at Kentucky. David is a tremendous shot blocker, with a 7'2 wing span.
Sterling Smoak- 6'9 225lbs- Motlow State CC
Hometown- San Antonio, TX
Stats: Avg. 5pts / 7rebs
Sterling is a standout center from San Antonio, TX. He helped his Motlow State CC team to the 2013 National Juco Tournament in Hutchinson, KS.
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION
Morris: Allen University’s baseball crown deserves dusting
COLUMBIA, South Carolina — FIFTY-THREE YEARS WILL scramble the memory of almost any baseball player. Bloop singles of long ago become line drives to the gap today.Members of the Allen University baseball team long since have forgotten most of the details from the 1960 season, their mental files gathering dust as they carried on with their lives over the past five decades.
One thing every member of that team remembers clearly, though, is that Allen won the 1960 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. A trophy that sits encased at the Adams Gymnatorium on the Allen campus proves that, even though a history of the SIAC lists Florida A&M as the champion. State Sen. Darrell Jackson plans to present a resolution on June 4 to the state Legislature recognizing Allen’s championship.
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Future looks bright for WSSU baseball team after historic season
That was apparent on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Wake Forest Ballpark last weekend. Reality hit for the seniors on the Winston-Salem State baseball team as they realized that their college careers were over. Tears from seniors such as Travis Moore, a 26-year-old left fielder, and first baseman Aaron Jones were a symbol of how much they cared and how much emotion they had poured into the program.
“We’re a family,” said junior third baseman Levi Grassley about the emotion displayed after Saturday’s 7-4 heartbreaking loss to Shippensburg in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region playoffs. “We are one unit and that’s what we’ve been talking about all season — and especially in this regional.”
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Monday, May 20, 2013
Aggies, Spartans hoping for home-track advantage in NCAA regional
GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- Keenan Smith can’t bring his girlfriend with him to meet his parents when he goes home for breaks.N.C. A&T’s junior triple jumper leaves her someplace he knows he’ll find her when he gets back to Greensboro: safely nestled within the confines of Irwin Belk Track at Aggie Stadium.
“I spend so much time out here, sitting down on the (jump) pit, meditating, coming out here and raking the pit just to be around it,” Smith said. “It’s like my girlfriend.”
Smith, the 15th-ranked triple jumper in the NCAA East Preliminary Round, knows his special lady will be getting the attention of more than 100 other jumpers during this week’s regional meet.
But he knows where her true loyalties lay.
“When I’m here, I feel like no one else should beat me. I should dominate on this pit,” Smith said. “This is like my fortress of solitude.”
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Ram Ramblings: WSSU baseball team should be proud of its season
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- It’s a shame more folks didn’t come out to see No. 23 Winston-Salem State’s baseball team at the Atlantic Region at Wake Forest Ballpark.
While attendance was spotty for the Rams three games, the brand of baseball was good. I was impressed at the style of Coach Kevin Ritsche’s team that puts a lot of pressure on the other team’s defense.
My best guess is there were maybe 200 fans at Friday’s game and probably 150 or so at Thursday and Saturday’s game. Still, the Rams played hard and while they didn’t win the regional they more than held their own.
The Rams wound up 1-2 in the regional and 39-13 overall, the best record in school history. I’ll have a season wrap-up story on Tuesday about the Rams in the Journal.
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While attendance was spotty for the Rams three games, the brand of baseball was good. I was impressed at the style of Coach Kevin Ritsche’s team that puts a lot of pressure on the other team’s defense.
My best guess is there were maybe 200 fans at Friday’s game and probably 150 or so at Thursday and Saturday’s game. Still, the Rams played hard and while they didn’t win the regional they more than held their own.
The Rams wound up 1-2 in the regional and 39-13 overall, the best record in school history. I’ll have a season wrap-up story on Tuesday about the Rams in the Journal.
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Sunday, May 19, 2013
JSU baseball wins 15th SWAC title by defeating Prairie View
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Alexander Juday pitched a complete game and received balanced offensive support to propel Jackson State to a 6-2 victory over Prairie View for its 15th Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Sunday in Fort Worth, Texas.Bryce Taylor got JSU on the board in the third inning with a double to score Gary Thomas. Taylor came around to score on a single by Ethan Bright to put the Tigers up 2-0.
Jose Cruz added a 2-run single down the left field line to score Bright and Taylor in the fifth inning.
Stephen Curtis scored Aneko Knowles on an RBI double with two outs in the sixth inning.
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President Obama gets personal about race and manhood in Morehouse speech
ATLANTA, Georgia - President Obama on Sunday summoned the graduates of historically black Morehouse College to “transform the way we think about manhood,” urging the young men to avoid the temptation to make excuses and to take responsibility for their families and their communities.
Delivering a commencement address at the all-male private liberal arts college in Atlanta, Obama spoke in deeply personal terms about the “special obligation” he feels as a black man to help those left behind.
“There but for the grace of God, I might be in their shoes,” Obama said. “I might have been in prison. I might have been unemployed. I might not have been able to support a family — and that motivates me.”
The president also reflected on the absence of his father growing up, noting that he was raised by a “heroic single mother” and urged the young graduates not to shrink from their family responsibilities.
“My whole life, I’ve tried to be for Michelle and my girls what my father wasn’t for my mother and me,” Obama said. “I want to break that cycle — where a father’s not at home, where a father’s not helping to raise that son and daughter. I want to be a better father, a better husband, a better man.”
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