Bowie State linebacker discovering his potential

BOWIE, Maryland  -- When Antoine Young was a senior at Suitland High School during the 2010 football season, Bowie State coach Damom Wilson took notice. So Wilson, who was in his first year at BSU at the time, made Young one of the key members of his first full recruiting class.

“I remember seeing that he had a very high motor, and he was an extremely tough player,” Wilson said during an interview following a spring practice scrimmage in April. “As a coach, that is something you look for in a player.”

Young, who was one of 13 players to sign with Bowie State in February 2011, admittedly entered college as a raw prospect, and after taking a redshirt season, he said he had no doubt he would develop into one of the Bulldogs’ better players.

“A lot of guys came in my class as potential guys,” said Young, who was a second team All-Gazette selection in 2010. “This spring really showed off our talent and the vision of coaching staff. We are part of Coach Wilson’s first real recruiting class, and our goal is to get things going.”

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Official: Virginia HBCU to close

LAWRENCEVILLE, Virginia — Saint Paul’s College has informed an accreditation association the historically black college is closing.

President Belle S. Wheeler of the Southeastern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges said the college alerted the commission of its plans.

St. Paul’s officials could not be reached over the weekend and the school’s website did not indicate it was closing.

Founded in 1888, the school had been struggling financially and it was denied accreditation by Wheeler’s group.

The school had considered merging with another school but that effort failed. It had also dropped its athletic programs, citing finances.

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Art Shell golf classic draws UMES and NFL greats

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — Some NFL greats and University of Maryland Eastern Shore alumni will return to their roots on the Eastern Shore to help raise money for UMES's Professional Golf Management Program and Division of Athletics by participating in the annual Art Shell UMES Celebrity Golf Classic and Junior Tournament June 11-12.

 

The event, which will occur at Great Hope Golf Course in Westover, Md., is hosted by NFL, UMES and CIAA Hall of Famer Art Shell.

 

Following the Junior Tournament, for golfers age 11 to 18 on June 11, Shell and other former NFL players, such as the UMES Golf Academy director and men's golf head coach Marshall Cropper, will partner with foursomes to play in the 18-hole tournament June 12. They will attend an awards dinner in the Henson Center on campus that evening.

 

Cropper, the tournament's director and a former player for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins, said the funds from the event go to building the PGA program and golf academy, as well as funding scholarships.

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OP-ED: Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough -- Why USC and not a black college, Dr. Dre?

LOS ANGELES, California  --  I was in Detroit preparing to give a speech last week when the news came across my Twitter feed: "Dr. Dre and music producer Jimmy Iovine donate $70 million to USC to create new degree." As one of the first university presidents from the hip-hop generation, I had to stop and read the story immediately.

The two music moguls and co-founders of Beats Electronics — recognizing that they needed a new type of creative talent for their growing music technology business — are funding a four-year program that blends liberal arts, graphic and product design, business and technology.

I understood their need to build a pool of skilled talent. But why at USC? Iovine's daughter is an alum, sure. And he just gave its commencement address. Andre Young — before he was Dr. Dre — grew up in nearby Compton, where he rose to fame as part of the rap group N.W.A. The Beats headquarters are on L.A.'s Westside.

Still, what if Dre had given $35 million — his half of the USC gift and about 10% of his wealth, according to a Forbes estimate — to an institution that enrolls the very people who supported his career from the beginning? An institution where the majority of students are low-income? A place where $35 million would represent a truly transformational gift?

Why didn't Dr. Dre give it to a black college?

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ULL rips Jackson State to stay alive in Baton Rouge Regional

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  Nine relatively quiet innings at the plate might have gnawed at Louisiana-Lafayette.

As it turned out, Jackson State pitching was the perfect remedy.

Subdued in their NCAA tournament regional opener, the Ragin’ Cajuns woke up in a 15-1 elimination-game rout Saturday afternoon at Alex Box Stadium, pounding out 19 hits and recovering from an early one-run deficit to survive into Sunday.

ULL (42-19) faces the loser from the Sam Houston State-LSU matchup at 2 p.m. Sunday in another elimination game.

“We’ve just got to survive and advance,” ULL coach Tony Robichaux said. “We’ve got enough hitting to get through this.”

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Alabama Avoids Elimination with 3-2 Win over Savannah State

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  The Alabama baseball team held on for a 3-2 win over the Savannah State Tigers in an elimination game in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional on Saturday afternoon from Dick Howser Stadium. Alabama will play on Sunday against the loser of the winner’s bracket game between Florida State and Troy.

“This time of the year you’ll take an ugly win, and that’s certainly what it was today,” Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard said. “Credit Mike Oczypok, who was tremendous today. He developed a blister in the third inning and he really batted through it to give us seven. A lot of credit goes to Mike.”

Alabama (35-27) starting pitcher Mike Oczypok (5-2) gave the Tide another outstanding performance, going 7.0 scoreless innings against the Tigers. The walk-on freshman allowed six hits, walked one and struck out four en route to his fifth win of the season.  Closer Ray Castillo threw a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 12th save of the season, to set a school record for saves by a freshman.

“We weren’t very sharp today and haven’t been in this tournament,” Gaspard said. “We’re still breathing and tomorrow is a new day and another opportunity. We’ll try to take whatever momentum we have from today and into tomorrow and look for better play.”

Box Score | Savannah State Photo Gallery

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Hot bats, unruly fans highlight FSU's 10-0 win over SSU in NCAA Regionals

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Go figure - the most resistance Savannah State could muster against Florida State actually came from the stands during the NCAA Regional on Friday night.

Top seed Florida State dismantled the fourth-seeded Tigers with ease, scoring 10 runs in the first three innings on the way to a 10-0 win in front of 3,084 at Dick Howser Stadium.

And with all on-field drama gone early, that left the pinnacle of suspense to a stadium walkway in the third inning as a small group of unruly Savannah State fans had to be corralled and ejected by FSU athletic director Randy Spetman.

FSU, which snapped a four-game losing skid, moves on from a wild Friday to play No. 3-seed Troy on Saturday at 5 p.m. Troy beat Alabama 5-2 in the early game, meaning Alabama and Savannah State, the MEAC Champions, will play in an elimination game at Noon Saturday.  "Anytime that you can shut out a team with the ability of Savannah State, you have to certainly be pleased as a coach," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "It was a good win for us."

Photo Gallery: FSU AD Randy Spetman escorts unruly SSU fans out of stadium

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FSU AD Randy Spetman breaks up near-fight during Regional

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Fans of opposing athletics programs take note: if you get out of line during games at Florida State, this is how the school's athletics director will take care of you.

First, he'll be polite. Slowly, casually he'll walk over to you and your unruly group and try to speak peacefully. No, you may not know who he is, but to him, that's OK. You don't need to know. He just wants you to calm down and to get off his property.

If the calm approach doesn't work, and you're still causing a scene, the Air Force graduate and former fighter pilot will take things up a notch.

Get in his face, and he'll make sure his is the last you see before walking out of his facility.

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Xavier's Hopkins selected for Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame

NEW ORLEANS — Bob Hopkins, who coached Xavier University of Louisiana to NAIA District 30 men's basketball championships in 1972 and 1973 and three victories in the NAIA Division I National Championship, has been selected for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
     
Hopkins will be inducted Sunday, Nov. 24 at Midland Theatre in Kansas City, Mo., as part of a three-day celebration of the sport.
     
Hopkins played for Grambling from 1952-56 and set an NCAA men's career scoring record of 3,759 points. He's still No. 2 on that list. He played four seasons in the NBA with the Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers) and won more than 250 games as a men's head coach at Xavier, Alcorn State, Grambling, Maryland Eastern Shore and Southern. He also coached the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics for part of the 1977-78 season and Grambling's women in 1983-84.

Hopkins was 82-45 from 1969-74 as head coach of the Gold Rush, and his 1972-73 team — led by Donald "Slick" Watts and Bruce Seals — upset top-ranked and unbeaten Sam Houston State 67-60 in the second round of the NAIA's national tournament. Until 2012, the 1972-73 Gold Rush were the only XU team in any sport to reach the NAIA national quarterfinals. Men's tennis did it in 2012, and both the men's and women's teams accomplished that earlier this month.
     
He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1963, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Grambling Legends Hall of Fame in 2009. Hopkins is 78 years old and lives in a Seattle suburb.
      
Also inducted in November with Hopkins will be Tom McMillen, Marques Johnson, Gene Keady, Rollie Massimino, George Raveling, George Killian and the 1962-63 Loyola University Chicago men's team.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS 

WSSU Volleyball star forgoing fun in the sun for internship

AVONI SEYMOUR
(Courtesy: WSSU RAMS Athletics)

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  There won’t be much vacation this summer for Winston-Salem State University senior outside hitter
Avoni Seymour.

Instead of spending the summer on the beaches of her native Nassau, Bahamas, she will complete an internship in biomedical research at WSSU.

“It’s a really big deal because it’s my last summer as an undergrad and my goal is to go to medical school,” Seymour said.

“So this is the perfect opportunity for me to sharpen my skills and prepare for the next level.”

A rising senior on the Lady Rams volleyball team, Seymour earned second team All-CIAA last season after totaling 242 kills and finishing second on the team with 302 digs.

The Provost Scholar of Biomedical Research internship will allow her to ...

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LSU scuffles, Bregman injured in NCAA opening win over Jackson State

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  --  Murphy's Law was alive and well at Alex Box Stadium on Friday afternoon.

With weekend starting pitcher Cody Glenn suspended for at least the regional round of the NCAA Tournament, LSU entered their opening game of the Baton Rouge regional against Jackson State short on pitching.

The problem was compounded against the SWAC Champions when starter Ryan Eades struggled mightily, going just 2 1/3 innings. LSU head coach Paul Mainieri was forced to go to his bullpen very early.

To make matters worse, star freshman shortstop Alex Bregman and hard-hitting left-fielder Raph Rhymes collided on ...

BOX SCORE -- LSU 11, Jackson State 7

PHOTO GALLERY: Baton Rouge Regional

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NCCU’s Frazier among candidates for Prairie View A.D. job

DURHAM, North Carolina — N.C. Central football coach Henry Frazier III is among six finalists who could emerge as director of athletics at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, where he coached before coming to Durham.

Each finalist has been given a date to share his or her vision for Prairie View athletics at open forums with alumni, students, faculty, staff and the general public, and Frazier is scheduled to make his case during a June 6 return to the campus where he reversed the fortunes of what had been a miserable football program.

“I have had the good fortune of not just serving as a head football coach, but also the CEO of a two impressive multi-million dollar football programs,” Frazier said. “This combined with my experience and education as a doctoral candidate afford me many opportunities in higher education. I have high career aspirations and have drawn administrative interest many times in the past. While I am extremely happy leading the NCCU football program, this opportunity is of interest to me and I decided to pursue it. I feel honored to be thought of as a leader in higher education and to have the support of NCCU.”

No hard feelings, NCCU athletics director Ingrid Wicker-McCree said.

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Savannah State Tigers bring speed, ace into regional

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Junior pitcher Kyle McGowin has gotten a lot of attention this season for Savannah State. And with good reason, after compiling a 12-1 record with 1.33 ERA and 129 strikeouts.

But the Tigers (33-21), coming off their first-ever MEAC title, are more than just one player. Or one arm, to be more precise.

Coach Carlton Hardy’s team has 127 stolen bases this season to rank sixth nationally. And if they get on base against Florida State right-hander Scott Sitz today, expect the Tigers to try to put as much pressure on the Seminoles’ defense as possible.



“That’s kind of our offensive motto,” Hardy said. “Typical get-em-on, get-em-over, get-em in. And if we can get them over by a stolen base, we’ll do that.”

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GSU equipment manager retires after 33 years

RUSTON, Louisiana — Grambling dubs its best athletes as “Grambling Legends,” but football coach Doug Williams said that longtime equipment manager Chuck Dawson is “more than a legend.”

Dawson will retire July 1 after 33 years of service as Grambling’s only full time equipment manager, and friends celebrated his career Wednesday night with a surprise party at the National Guard Armory in Ruston.

“I don’t tackle or do anything like that,” Dawson told his party. “But I want to make sure that when we hit the field, we look good.

“Doug Williams loves his team and will do anything for his staff ... and you don’t mind going the extra mile.”

Dawson, 78, went the first of his many miles for Eddie Robinson. Dawson was exiting the Air Force when he said Robinson repeatedly asked him to become Grambling’s equipment manager even though Dawson had no experience.

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Saint Augustine's Jones Selected USTFCCCA DII National Men's Track Athlete of the Year

RALEIGH, North Carolina  --  Jermaine Jones of Saint Augustine's University was named Division II Outdoor National Men's Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday, May 29, 2013.

“I was speechless when I found out,” Jones said. “Then I started thanking God because he has been blessing me on the track these past months.”

The award capped an amazing few days for the Wilmington, N.C., native. Jones ran anchor leg on the winning 4x100 relay team which set the DII record twice at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Pueblo, Colo. The Falcons ran 39.01 during Thursday's preliminaries and followed up with a time of 38.91 in Saturday's finals. The 4x100 team, which includes Taffawee Johnson (Jr./St. Ann, Jamaica), Ramaan Ansley (Sr./Philadelphia, Pa.) and Burkheart Ellis, Jr. (Fr./Raleigh, N.C.), are the only relay squad in DII history to run under 39 seconds.

Jones also won the 200 dash and finished third in the 100 dash on Saturday in career-best times of 20.57 and 10.34, respectively. His running helped lead the Falcons to the NCAA DII men's outdoor crown over the weekend. Last Wednesday, Jones received his award for winning Atlantic Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year.

“We are proud of him,” said George Williams, the legendary St. Aug track & field head coach and athletic director who has led the Falcons to 33 NCAA DII men's and women's titles combined. “When you work hard, good things come your way.”

The CIAA Championships in April 2013 served as a prelude to the DII Championships for Jones, who was named CIAA Most Valuable Men's Track Performer after claiming both the 100 and 200 titles and running on the winning 4x100 relay team. Jones had a breakout season as a sophomore after showing promise as a freshman when he earned all-conference honors in the 100 dash. This year was Jones' first at the DII Championship meet.

“The key this year was working harder,” Jones said. “Listening to the coaches more and taking it more seriously. I thank God, my parents, the coaches and my whole team, both women and men. My teammates supported me a lot because there was a time when I didn't want to finish workouts but they got me through it. I wasn't expecting to get [the award], but Coach Williams kept telling me to keep working hard and everything will pay off.”

Jones is the third person from St. Aug chosen national USTFCCCA outdoor athlete of the year since the award's inception in 2006. Joe Kindred was named men's top field athlete in 2008 and 2009 and Kwonya Ferguson won the women's field athlete award in 2007.

A two-sport standout, Jones excelled in football the past three years as a wide receiver for the Falcons. He has 10 career touchdown receptions, mainly on deep passes.

“We are glad football let us have him the past two years,” Williams said. “It is great to have him.”

COURTESY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Livingstone Hayes win national title

SALISBURY, North Carolina — At the 2013 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships history was made. Quanera Hayes became the first female Livingstonian to become a National Champion at the event held in Pueblo, Colorado.

Hayes was the winner of the 400 meters event running a personal best and school record of 51.54 seconds. The Meet was held at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl on the campus of Colorado

Hayes, who finished 5th in the same event last year, beat out the 2012 event champion Kayon Robinson of Adams State by .34 seconds. Just over an hour and 1/2 later she crossed the line in 4th in the 200 meters running 23.30 to capture her 6th all time NCAA All-American honor.

Hayes currently has the 3rd fastest time amongst all collegiate divisions.

State-Pueblo. Not only did she win her event, but her time was also good enough for a new facility record.

"This is a tremendous honor for Livingstone College Track and Field and is proof that Blue Bear Nation can compete with the best in the country," said LC Track & Field Coach Justin Davis.

 

 

COURTESY LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION

Anthony Evans earned his shot at FIU

MIAMI, Florida  --  Getting a head-coaching job is extremely difficult.

Moving upward in Division I from the MEAC and SWAC has been almost as hard as getting the first job.

Blame the ridiculous search firms that think they know the profession but don't. Point to athletic directors who are wowed by the brand name of an assistant.

But actually dig deeper and search for a head coach who has had to do a lot with a little and you'll see there are quality coaches in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities.



Florida International's new coach Anthony Evans had done wonders at Norfolk State. He won the league two years in a row, won the MEAC tournament title for the first time and had consecutive players of the year.

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WSSU gives Hayes a contract extension

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  Athletics Director Bill Hayes of Winston-Salem State, who is at the top of his game as an administrator, has been rewarded with a three-year contract extension.

Chancellor Donald Reaves announced the extension Thursday afternoon, after an earlier unanimous vote by the school’s board of trustees in a conference call.

“It’s phenomenal,” Reaves said of Hayes’ accomplishments since his hiring in January 2010. “When I hired Bill, I knew he was a seasoned athletics director, a football coach, and he’d been around and knew the ropes.

“I needed somebody then to get me from that transition from the MEAC and back into the CIAA and all that stuff that came along with it.”

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MEAC/SWAC Challenge Ticket Sale Countdown

Courtesy: FAMU Athletics

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  --  Florida A&M Rattler fans, tickets for the 2013 MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney will go on sale Monday, June 3rd!  

The Rattlers will take on Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils on September 1st in Orlando, Florida to kick-off the 2013 football season.  Get your game tickets first by visiting www.­meacswacchalleng­e.­com or calling (800) 745-3000 for purchase.  

For more information contact the FAMU ticket office at (850) 599-3141.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

PVAM Repeats as Commissioner's Cup Winner

NEW ORLEANS -- For the second year in a row, Prairie View A&M has claimed the James Frank SWAC Commissioner's Cup Award for overall program success. The Panthers also won the C.D. Henry Award for the top men's team in the league. Alabama State claimed the Sadie Magee/Barbara Jacket Award for the women.

PVAM totaled 161.0 points to claim the James Frank Award. The Panthers won two first place titles in men's competition. They also recorded three second place finishes and two others in the top five. In the women's competitions, PVAM had six top five finishes, including a title and two in second place.

The Panthers outdistanced Jackson State in the race for the C.D. Henry Award 72-66.5, while Alabama State was third in the men's standings with 62.5 points.

Alabama State broke up the PVAM sweep by nipping the Lady Panthers by two points in the hunt for the Sadie Magee/Barbara Jacket Award. The Lady Hornets tallied 91 points to 89 for PVAM. It came down to the final event for the women as ASU led PVAM by half a point going into the SWAC softball tournament. ASU advanced to the finals of the tournament and earned 10 points for a second finish, while PVAM fell in the semifinals and had to split 8.5 points, preserving the slim two point win for the Lady Hornets.

Jackson State rounded out the top three with 77 points.

Sadie Magee/Barbara Jacket Award
1 - Alabama State - 91.0
2 - Prairie View A&M - 89.0
3 - Jackson State - 77.0
4 - Mississippi Valley State - 72.0
5 - Texas Southern - 68.5
6 - Southern - 57.0
7 - Alabama A&M - 52.5
8 - Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 42.5
9 - Alcorn State - 40.5
10 - Grambling State - 40.0

C.D. Henry Award - Men
1 - Prairie View A&M - 72.0
2 - Jackson State - 66.5
3 - Alabama State - 62.5
4 - Texas Southern - 57.0
5 - Arkansas-Pine Bluff - 50.5
6 - Mississippi Valley State - 44.5
7 - Alcorn State - 42.5
8 - Alabama A&M - 38.0
9 - Southern - 37.0
10 - Grambling State - 36.5

COURTESY SWAC ATHLETICS

SWAC Football and Basketball Championships Headed to Houston

NEW ORLEANS  -- The Southwestern Athletic Conference Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted unanimously to relocate the 2013 Toyota SWAC Football Championship and 2014 Basketball Tournament to Houston, Texas for the next three seasons.

The football championship game will be held at the home of the NFL Houston Texans, Reliant Stadium (Above), while the basketball tournament will be housed at the Toyota Center, the home of the NBA Houston Rockets.

The football championship will be at Reliant Stadium 2013 through 2015, while the basketball tournament will be played at the Toyota Center 2014 through 2016.

The 2013 Toyota SWAC Football Championship is scheduled for Saturday, December 7, while the basketball tournament is slated for March 11-15, 2014.

COURTESY SWAC ATHLETICS

 

Milford Mill grad Kyle Thomas talks about his Morgan State pledge

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  There was one constant in Kyle Thomas’ recruitment before, during and after he went to prep school: interest from Morgan State.

Thomas, a full qualifier out of Milford Mill in 2012, was offered a scholarship by Bears coach Todd Bozeman coming out of high school. When the 6-foot-6, 195-pound wing did a post-grad year at Central Jersey Each One Teach One Academy, Bozeman reiterated that the offer was still on the table. Thomas, who signed with Morgan State earlier this month, cited the coach’s loyalty as a major factor in his decision.

“I really liked the opportunity I would have going into Morgan,” Thomas said Tuesday. “Coach Bozeman has me doing a lot of workouts with strength and conditioning. He really just made me feel comfortable. Offering somebody a scholarship twice really shows that they want you. It seemed like the best fit for me.”

As a senior for the Millers, Thomas averaged ...

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Former Gold Rush assistant earns promotion at Richmond

Coach Kim Lewis

NEW ORLEANS — Kim Lewis, a former Xavier University of Louisiana coach, has been promoted to men's basketball assistant coach at the University of Richmond.
      
Lewis, Richmond's director of basketball operations the past two seasons, earned the promotion after associate head coach Kevin McGeehan became the head coach at Campbell in April.
      
Lewis was an assistant to Dannton Jackson during Jackson's first season (2002-03) as head coach of the Gold Rush. That XU team won 11 of its first 12 games, finished 22-12 and ranked among the top 25 teams in NAIA Division I in field-goal percentage and scoring defense.
     
A former standout player at Tulane, Lewis also has been an assistant coach at Tulane, Centenary, McNeese State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Duquesne and Northeastern.

By Ed Cassiere, SID
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

All-Louisiana teams: Top honors for Didavi, Montrel, Green

Kyle Montrel

NEW ORLEANS — Led by Loic Didavi, a repeat selection as men's Player of the Year, Xavier University of Louisiana was well-represented on the 2012-13 All-Louisiana tennis teams announced late Saturday by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.



Loic Didavi

Kyle Montrel joined Didavi on the men's team — Xavier was the only school with a pair of first-team men — and was chosen Freshman of the Year. Viktor Svoboda received honorable mention. Kourtney Howell was selected to the women's first team, and Alan Green is the women's Coach of the Year.
    
Both XU teams had their best seasons ever. The women were the first XU team in any sport to reach No. 1 in an NAIA coaches poll or reach the semifinals of an NAIA National Championship. The men reached their highest-ever NAIA ranking, fifth, on three occasions, including the postseason poll. The Gold Rush became the first XU program to reach the national quarterfinals in consecutive years.
    


Kourtney Howell

Didavi, a senior from Cotonou, Benin, and a graduate of Lycée Jean Dautet, La Rochelle, shared the Player of the Year award with LSU sophomore Chris Simpson. The only two-time first-team NAIA All-American in Gold Rush history, Didavi was 16-6 in singles and 18-5 in doubles this season and was chosen ITA NAIA National Senior Player of the Year.    

"Loic has been a program-changer for our men since the moment he stepped on campus," Green said. "He has vaulted our team into a top-5 NAIA ranking for the first time in the program's history, and he has been our leader on and off the court. In addition to his accomplishments as a player, he has been our hardest worker in practice. He has been a coach's dream and will be almost impossible to replace. He also displays good sportsmanship and respect to the opposing players and coaches."

Viktor Svoboda

Didavi was 41-12 in singles and 45-13 in doubles in his two Xavier seasons.
    
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. He set a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference season record with four player-of-the-week awards, and he received All-America honorable mention.  


"Kyle was a pleasant surprise for us this season," Green said. "He is by far our most talented guy on the team. He wins matches by virtue of talent mostly, and he really enjoys the competition of playing college tennis. Kyle has a very bright tennis future ahead of him."
    
Montrel is the Gold Rush's second Louisiana Freshman of the Year and the first since Cameron Knowles in 2007.

Alan Green

    
Svoboda, a junior from Kamenice, Czech Republic, and a graduate of Vitezna Plan, was 18-10 in singles and 20-6 in doubles. He led the Gold Rush in singles victories and won 13 of his last 15 singles matches, including victories against nationally ranked NAIA teams Embry-Riddle, William Carey, Belhaven and Northwood (Fla.) and three victories against NCAA Division I, including a road victory at Southland Conference runner-up New Orleans. He and Nikita Soifer won 15 of their last 16 doubles matches.
    
Howell, a junior from Cypress, Texas, and a graduate of Cypress Woods High School, was 20-11 in singles and 23-11 in doubles, all with Brion Flowers, and led the Gold Nuggets in singles and doubles victories. Howell was a first-team NAIA All-American, a three-time GCAC Player of the Week and led the Nuggets with eight dual-clinching victories. She and Flowers were No. 1 in the ITA NAIA doubles rankings of April 17.
    
"Kourtney is the one person on the team I can always count on to go above the call of duty as a student-athlete," Green said. "We have received numerous compliments from referees this season, and most of it is because of the leadership Kourtney provides to her teammates."
    
Howell and Flowers were the USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional doubles runner-up during the fall. It was the first time the Gold Nuggets reached the finals of that event.
    
Green, in his 10th season at Xavier, won the women's coaching award for the second time and the first time since 2009. He was the men's Louisiana Coach of the Year in 2009, 2011 and 2012. His women finished 19-8 and were 12-1 against ranked NAIA opponents, including victories on consecutive April days against Auburn Montgomery and William Carey, the finalists at the NAIA National Championship. The Gold Nuggets had a program-record 11-dual win streak from March 26-May 16. Green was chosen the women's ITA NAIA National Coach of the Year.
    
An LSWA panel of sports information directors selected the teams.

2012-13 All-Louisiana Tennis

WOMEN
 FIRST TEAM
Klaudia Gawlik, freshman, McNeese State
Kourtney Howell, junior, Xavier
Polina Konop, junior, Northwestern State
Emma Levy, senior, Tulane
Ella Taylor, freshman, LSU
Renee Villarreal, freshman, Southeastern Louisiana
Klara Vyskocilova, junior, Tulane

SECOND TEAM
Medy Blankvoort, junior, Louisiana-Monroe
Isabel Brito, senior, Southeastern Louisiana
Joanna Nalborska, freshman, Louisiana Tech
Alexandra Starkova, freshman, Louisiana Tech
Demetria Woods, senior, Southern

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  (tie) Klaudia Gawlik, McNeese State; Klara Vyskocilova, Tulane
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:  Klaudia Gawlik, McNeese State
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:  Valya Rusakova, Southeastern Louisiana
COACH OF THE YEAR:  Alan Green, Xavier

HONORABLE MENTION
Sandra Ahlqvist, Louisiana-Lafayette
Andrea Nedorostova, Northwestern State

MEN

FIRST TEAM
Rick DeGroot, junior, Louisiana-Lafayette
Loic Didavi, senior, Xavier
Dmitry Kozionov, senior, Nicholls State
Dominik Koepfer, freshman, Tulane
Kyle Montrel, freshman, Xavier
Chris Simpson, sophomore, LSU

SECOND TEAM
Damian Farinola, sophomore, Louisiana-Lafayette
Hunter Johnson, freshman, Louisiana-Lafayette
Idan Mark, senior, Tulane
Hossam Meligy, senior, New Orleans
Nico Mertens, freshman, Nicholls State
Rui Silva, sophomore, New Orleans

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:  (tie) Loic Didavi, Xavier; Chris Simpson, LSU
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:  Kyle Montrel, Xavier
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:  Rui Silva, New Orleans
COACH OF THE YEAR:  Jeff Brown, LSU

HONORABLE MENTION
Mark Bowtell, LSU
Viktor Svoboda, Xavier

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 

Xavier's Cousin on list of best HBCU athletics directors

XU teams have won 46 conference and unaffiliated group championships since
Dennis Cousin was named director of intercollegiate athletics in 2004.

 NEW ORLEANS — Dennis Cousin, director of intercollegiate athletics at Xavier University of Louisiana since 2004, is on HBCUDigest.com's list of the five best ADs at an HBCU (Historically Black College or University).
During Cousin's tenure, XU teams have won 46 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and NAIA unaffiliated group championships and made 34 appearances at NAIA National Championships. Under Xavier’s current head coaches, 125 of 130 senior student-athletes received degrees from Xavier or are still enrolled.

Xavier made two major facility upgrades during 2012-13  with the October opening of the XU Tennis Center and the November opening of the Convocation Center, a multipurpose arena which seats nearly 4,000 for basketball and volleyball.
  
 "Leading an HBCU is not an enviable gig," HBCUDigest.com wrote, "but there are many who are making the most of the job that, next to being an HBCU president, is the hardest at any institution."
    
Also on the list of best HBCU ADs are William Broussard of Southern University, Marty Miller of Norfolk State, Lynn Thompson of Bethune-Cookman and William Hayes of Winston-Salem State.
    
Xavier is one of 38 U.S. colleges listed as a "Best Buy School" in the 2013 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges.

Note to media: Dennis Cousin's last name is pronounced COO-zan.


By Ed Cassiere, SID
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

Family claims hazing in suit over B-CU band member's death

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida  --  Bethune-Cookman University failed to stop fraternity hazing which led to the death of a Marching Wildcat band member, according to a lawsuit filed in Volusia County.

Marcus Thomas, 19, died when the car in which he was riding crashed into a utility pole on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard near Orange Avenue about 8:30 a.m. Feb. 20, 2012.

 

The suit filed by the dead student's mother claims hazing by members of the Pi Gamma chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America subjected Thomas and other pledges to sleep deprivation. The pledges, including the car's driver, Carl A. Beasley Jr., fell asleep, leading to the fatal crash, according to the lawsuit. All the others in the car besides Thomas survived.

 

B-CU officials said Tuesday they have a zero tolerance policy for hazing.

 

Thomas' death came ...
 

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