Winners of 2015 NCAA DII Outdoor Region Awards Announced

NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season were announced Friday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Each of the regions, which are the same as those used during the Division II cross country season, honored both genders’ top track athletes and field athletes and the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches. Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches.

QUICK LINKS TO AWARDS
Men	Women
Track Athletes of the Year	Track Athletes of the Year
Field Athletes of the Year	Field Athletes of the Year
Head Coaches of the Year	Head Coaches of the Year
Assistant Coaches of the Year	Assistant Coaches of the Year

Many of the honored athletes and coaches will be in competition at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships set for next weekend, May 21-23, in Allendale, Mich., at Grand Valley State.

More information about the meet can be found at the USTFCCCA’s National Championships Central page.

MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION — Omar Johnson — Saint Augustine’s University
Johnson, a junior from St. Ann, Jamaica, ran a 45.78 over 400 meters this year to take “fastest man of the regular season” honors by more than half of a second. He won the 400 title at the CIAA Championships with that performance, to go along with a title in the 4×400 relay. He also ran 20.89 to finish fourth at 200 meters in that meet, which is still good for No. 9 in the country. He’ll contest all three events at NCAAs.

CENTRAL REGION — Emmanuel Matadi — Minnesota State
Matadi, a senior from St. Paul, Minnesota, was the fastest Division II man of the 2015 season over 100 meters, running a 10.19w (+3.3m/s). That race was one of three NSIC titles for Matadi, in addition to the 200 and 4×100. His 4×100 is ranked No. 1 in DII, and he is individually No. 4 at 200 meters. He will contest all three at NCAAs.

EAST REGION — Michael Biwott — American International
Biwott, a senior from Kapsowar, Kenya, was the Northeast-10 champion in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter runs. He broke the NE-10 meet record in the 10k. His 14:08.34 is the sixth fastest time among all Division II qualifiers and his time of 29:56.94 at 10,000 meters gives him the 13th best time in the nation. Biwott also won the NEICAAA championship in the men’s 5k, beating out a field that consisted of the best athletes in New England from all three NCAA Divisions. He will contest both events at NCAAs.

MIDWEST REGION — Johnnie Guy — Southern Indiana
Guy, a junior from Palmyra, Indiana, posted the nation’s fastest 10,000m time (28:47.86) at the Stanford Invitational, nearly 39 seconds faster than the No. 2 runner on the national list. He’s also No. 4 in the nation at 5,000m in 14:01.32, an event in which he won the GLVC Outdoor Championships crown.

SOUTH REGION — Dontavius Wright – Stillman College
Wright, a junior from Oxford, Alabama, enters the NCAA Championships as the No. 2 seed at 400 meters and the No. 10 seed at 200 meters, as well as a member of Stillman’s 4×100 and 4×400 relays. Two weeks after winning three titles at the SIAC Championships, he ran a career-best 46.38 at the Jace LaCoste Invitational over 400 meters and a career-best 20.95 over 200.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Tabor Stevens — Adams State
Stevens, a senior from Canon City, Colorado, not only became the fastest steeplechaser in Division II history this season, he has been one of the best in the world this year. After running an 8:32.50 at the Stanford Invitational in early April – a world-leader at that point, he came back a month later for a new NCAA DII record 8:26.81 at the Payton Jordan Invitational. That stands as the 10th-fastest time in the world as of publication, and the second-fastest among all collegians in 2015. He also has a 14:12.02 at 5000 meters and the fastest mile ever run on Colorado soil in 4:01.27. He will contest the steeple and 5000 at NCAAs.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Austin Steagall — Mount Olive
Steagall, a junior from Gaffney, South Carolina, scored 28 points at the Conference Carolinas Championships to help his Mount Olive squad win the team title. He won the 1500 and 5000, and finished runner-up at 10,000 meters. He will compete at NCAAs in the 5000, in which he’s seeded No. 7 at 14:08.70.

WEST REGION — Dominik Notz — Alaska Anchorage
Notz, a junior from Dettingen, Germany, is the No. 2 man in the country at 10,000 meters with his 29:26.29 at the Mt. SAC Relays. He’s also No. 5 in the country at 5000 meters with his 14:07.05 from the SF State Distance Carnival. Both events will be on his schedule at NCAAs.

WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION — Quanera Hayes — Livingstone College
Hayes, a senior from Hope Mills, North Carolina, is the No. 2 woman in the country both at 200 meters and 400 meters. She won the CIAA title at 200 meters in a career-best 23.29, and claimed the conference 400-meter title in a season-best 52.04. She will contest both events at the NCAA Championships.

CENTRAL REGION — Leah Seivert — Augustana (S.D.)
Seivert, a frosh from Sibley, Iowa, made quite the impact in her debut season. She’s ranked No. 2 at 10,000 meters entering the NCAA Championships at 34:38.77, breaking a 35-year-old school record. She also claimed the NSIC 10,000 title in sub-35 fashion for a new conference record and won the 5000 at that same meet. She’ll contest both at NCAAs.

EAST REGION — Carly Muscaro — Merrimack
Muscaro, a sophomore from Ashland, Massachusetts, had a breakthrough season at 400 meters. She won the NEICAAA title in 51.83, giving her the DII lead and making her one of just eight DII women ever to break 52 seconds during the collegiate season. That time also ranks her No. 9 among all collegians in 2015. She will contest the event at the NCAA Championships.

MIDWEST REGION — Emily Oren — Hillsdale
Oren, a junior from Holland, Michigan, finished the regular season as the top DII woman in not one, not two, but three different distance events: the 1500, 5000 and 3000-meter steeplechase. She became the third-fastest woman in DII history in the steeplechase at 10:04.79, and ran the ninth-fastest 1500 in DII history in 4:18.16. She’ll contest both of those at NCAAs, but not the 5000. She claimed the GLIAC title in that event, as well as the steeplechase in 10:05.05 to give her the fifth- and sixth-fastest times in DII history.

SOUTH REGION — Katelin Barber — Alabama-Huntsville
Barber, a senior from Spruce Pine, Alabama, became the school’s first automatic NCAA Championships qualifier with a 11.49 at 100 meters that ranks her No. 3 on the NCAA Championships qualifying list. She won the Peach Belt title in the event, in addition to breaking the conference and school records. She will also run a leg of the UAH 4×100 relay.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Salcia Slack — New Mexico Highlands
Slack, a senior from Kingston, Jamaica, may be the dual South Central Track/FIeld Athlete of the Year, but her track credentials alone are impressive. She enters the NCAA Championships No. 5 in the 100-meter hurdles, No. 11 in the 400-meter hurdles and as a member of the NMHU 4×400 – not to mention the track works she put in as the 11th-best heptathlete in all-collegiate history. Though she won’t compete in these events at NCAAs, she’s also ranked No. 14 in the country at 200 meters, No. 13 at 400 meters, and ran a leg of the ninth-fastest 4×100 of the 2015 DII season. At the RMAC Championships she scored 59 points to lead NMHU to the team title.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Nikia Squire — Queens (N.C.)
Squire, a junior from Columbia, North Carolina, had a busy day at the SAC Championships, winning titles at 100 and 200 meters, as well as in the 4×100 and 4×100 relays. At 11.59, she enters the NCAA Championships as the No. 8 seed at 100 meters. She will also contest the long jump at NCAAs. At the regional level, she was the top 200-meter sprinter in the Southeast at 24.60.

WEST REGION — Lindsey Butterworth — Simon Fraser
Butterworth, a senior from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, turned in one of the best mid-distance regular seasons in Division II history. She ran a DII-leading 2:04.11 800 meters at the Payton Jordan Invite to move to No. 3 on the all-time Division II performers list in the event, and ran the Stanford Invite 1500 in 4:18.34 for the 10th-fastest time in Division II history. That time puts her at No. 2 in 2015 behind Oren. She will contest both events at the NCAA Championships. She also claimed the GNAC title at 800 meters.

MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION —LeQuan Chapman — Shippensburg
Chapman, a senior from Reading, Pennsylvania, was named the PSAC Championships Overall MVP with a pair of wins in the long jump and triple jump, along with a runner-up 4×100 effort. Entering the NCAA Championships, he’s seeded No. 13 in the triple jump at 49-6½ (15.10m) and No. 14 in the long jump at 24-1¾ (7.36m).

CENTRAL REGION —Caniggia Raynor — Central Missouri
Raynor, a redshirt junior from Partmore, Jamaica, won both the discus and hammer throw at the MIAA Championships. He is the national leader in the discus with his throw of 187-6 (57.14m) at the conference meet. He is ranked sixth in the hammer throw at 215-1 (65.57m).

EAST REGION — Michael Cameron — Southern Connecticut
Cameron, a senior from Hartford, Connecticut, dominated the New England throwing circles, winning NE-10 titles in the shot put and discus in meet record fashion to boost SCSU to the team title. He enters the NCAA Championships No. 5 in the shot put and No. 14 in the discus.

MIDWEST REGION — Justin Welch — Findlay
Welch, a senior from Luckey, Ohio, is the No. 1 hammer thrower in NCAA DII to go along with a No. 2 rank in the discus and a No. 31 showing in the shot put. With a hammer mark of 229-5 (69.94m), he’s ranked No. 6 among all collegians in 2015. He earned GLIAC Field Athlete of the Meet honors with titles in the hammer and discus, following up on his Penn Relays hammer title.

SOUTH REGION —Darius Hyacinth – Stillman College
Hyacinth, a senior from Houson, Texas, won the SIAC Championships title in the triple jump, but his breakthrough performance came a few weekends later when he leapt 49-11¾ (15.23m) at the Jace LaCoste Invitational to move up to No. 7 on the NCAA Championships qualifying list.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Jeron Robinson — Texas A&M-Kingsville
Robinson, a redshirt junior from Houston, Texas, broke free from sharing the NCAA Division II high jump record when he cleared a 2015 collegiate-leading 7-7 (2.31m) to win the Lone Star Conference title. That jump improved his season-best of 2.24m that had won him the LSU Alumni Gold, one of his three high jump wins to go along with seventh- and 10th-place showings at the very competitive Texas Relays and Drake Relays.

SOUTHEAST REGION — George Williams, Wingate
Williams, a senior from Fayetteville, North Carolina, is a All-Southeast Region performer in the high jump. He is the reigning South Atlantic Conference Champion in the men’s high jump, clearing a height of 6-11½ (2.12m) at the SAC Championships, which is equal to the 10th best jump in the nation.

WEST REGION — Justin Balczak — Azusa Pacific
Balczak, a redshirt junior from Cedar Springs, Michigan, enters the NCAA Championships as the No. 1 decathlete in all of NCAA Division II at 7550 points for a fifth-place finish at Mt. SAC. Entering the weekend, that score was good for the No. 9 spot on the 2015 all-collegians list. His 16-¾ (4.90m) vault is tied for No. 24 in DII this year.

WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION — Mallory Sanner — Seton Hill
Sanner, a redshirt senior from Uniontown, Pennsylvania, broke the PSAC record en route to winning the javelin title at the conference meet with a heave of 164-8 (50.20m). The throw moved her onto the all-time NCAA Division II performers list in the event at No. 10. She enters the NCAA Championships as the No. 4 seed in the event.

CENTRAL REGION — Heavin Warner — Central Missouri
Warner, a redshirt junior from St. Joseph, Missouri, broke the NCAA Division II record in the hammer throw with a mark of 220-7 (67.24m) that continues to lead all DII throwers by 20 feet. With that throw, she is ranked No. 4 among all collegians in 2015. She went on to win not only that event at the MIAA Championships, but also the discus and the shot put. She’s ranked No. 2 in the discus among DII athletes this year, and No. 7 in the shot put – both of which are events she will also contest at the NCAA Championships.

EAST REGION — Briana Conyers — New Haven
Conyers, a senior from Derby, Connecticut, was named the Northeast-10 Conference Co-Field Athlete of the Meet, and won triple jump titles at both the NE-10 and New England Championships. She is ranked No. 7 in DII in the triple jump at 12.61m. At the NEICAAA Championships she also ran a leg of the winning 4×100 relay, and at the NE-10 Championships she finished runner-up in the heptathlon, as well as eighth in the long jump. She will contest the triple jump at NCAAs.

MIDWEST REGION — Rebecca Preisler — Lewis
Preisler, a redshirt senior from Romeoville, Illinois, is the top DII pole vaulter in the country at 13-9¼ (4.20m). She cleared that height en route to a GLVC title and record. She cleared the auto standard of 3.98m on five occasions this outdoor season, with is a height only five other DII women cleared at least once this year.

SOUTH REGION — Krishanda Campbell-Brown — Benedict College
Campbell-Brown, a senior from Nassau, Bahamas, enters the NCAA Championships as the No. 8 triple jumper in the country and the No. 1 jumper in the South Region at 41-1½ (12.53m). She is also the No. 8 long jumper in the region. With 55½ points at the SIAC Championships, including wins in the long jump, triple jump and pole vault, she was named the Field Athlete of the Year.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Salcia Slack — New Mexico Highlands
As impressive as her credentials are on the track, the field is where Slack, a senior from Kingston, Jamaica, shines. She broke the NCAA Division II heptathlon record with 6141 points and is the No. 11 collegian all time. Additionally, enters the NCAA Championships as the co-top-qualifier in the triple jump at 43-4½ (13.22m), and is No. 11 on the long jump list for the NCAA Championships, She will also be contesting the shot put, in which she is the No. 11 seed. In total, she is entered in seven events.At the RMAC Championships she scored 59 points to lead NMHU to the team title.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Christina Matheny — Wingate
Matheny, a senior from Akron, Ohio, is tied for sixth on the NCAA Division II list in the high jump with a clearance of 5-8 (1.73m), achieved while winning the South Atlantic Conference championship. Matheny also finished in third place in the long jump at the SAC Championships.

WEST REGION — Allison Updike — Azusa Pacific
Updike, a redshirt junior from Herndon, Virginia, heaved a mark of 168-7 (51.38m) in the javelin to break the Bryan Clay Invitational record and move to No. 2 on the 2015 DII list. The performance was also strong enough to boost her to into the No. 6 spot on the all-time NCAA Division II performers list as one of only seven women in DII history to surpass 51 meters. Throughout the season she has throw 155-9 in each of her six competitions – better than all but five other javelin throwers in the country.

MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION — Dave Osanitsch — Shippensburg
Osanitsch, in his 10th year at Shippensburg, guided his Raiders to the PSAC title by a margin of more than 100 points. That team effort included 29 men scoring in 21 of 22 events, with nine wins. He guided 11 entries to the NCAA Championships, seventh-most in the country.

CENTRAL REGION — Jim Dilling — Minnesota State
Dilling, in his fourth year at Minnesota State, won the NSIC Championships title with a school-record 202½ points for a 110-point win en route to earning NSIC Coach of the Year honors. His jumps and combined events athletes scored 64 team points and set three school records at the school and conference levels. He will have eight athletes competing at the NCAA Championships.
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EAST REGION — John Wallin — Southern Connecticut
Under Wallin’s tutelage, the Alpha Owls continued its reign as defending Northeast-10 team champions, and more recently, runners-up at the All New England Championship, defeating a slew of notable Division I, II, & III teams. In his fifth year, Wallin guided several individuals and relays to championship prominence, including five NCAA Championship entries.

MIDWEST REGION — Mike Hillyard — Southern Indiana
Hillyard, in his 18th year guiding the Screaming Eagles, will send eight entries to the NCAA Championships next week, including the runaway top seed in the 10,000 meters, Johnnie Guy. He mentored Tyler Pence and Guy to the No. 3 and 4 qualifying spots at 5000 meters, with Guy and Pence also qualifying Nos. 1 and 4 at 10,000 meters. He has athletes qualified in every distance event from 1500 meters through 10,000 meters.

SOUTH REGION — Pierre Goode — Stillman College
Goode, in his seventh year at Stillman, guided his team to five berths into the NCAA Championships. Among his athletes is Dontavius Wright, who is No. 2 at 400 meters this season.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Tom Dibbern — Texas A&M-Commerce
Dibbern, in just his second year at the helm at Texas A&M-Commerce, guided his Lions to the No. 1 rank in the country in the most recent National Team Computer Rankings for the first time in program history. Under his guidance, the Lions set five school records and became the first team to complete the Lone Star Conference indoor/outdoor team title sweep. His team will send a nation-best 17 entries to the NCAA Championships as they seek their first national team title.

SOUTHEAST REGION —Matthew van Lierop — Mount Olive
Van Lierop, in his sixth year at Mount Olive, guided his team to a wire-to-wire No. 1 rank in the Southeast Region. His team won the Conference Carolinas title with 281½ points. He will send two men to the NCAA Division II Championships in his specialty distance events, including Southeast Track Athlete of the Year Austin Steagall at 5000 meters.

WEST REGION — Oliver Hanf, Chico State
Hanf, in his 19th year at Chico State, has kept his Wildcats in the national top-20 all season long, peaking as high as No. 1 early in the season. His charges include four athletes ranked in the top 10 nationally, including a decathlete – his coaching specialty. Overall, he will lead eight qualifiers to the NCAA Championships.

WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION — Dave Osanitsch — Shippensburg
Osanitsch, in his 10th year at Shippensburg, guided the Raiders to a big PSAC Championships team victory by 61 points, as 28 different women score in 19 of the total 22 events, including five victories. His squad will be represented at the NCAA Championships by four qualifiers, two of which come in the jumps – his signature event. That group of athletes earned a PSAC title in the triple jump, finished second and fourth in the long jump and second in the heptathlon.

CENTRAL REGION — Russ Jewett — Pittsburg State
Jewett, in his 27th year at Pittsburg State, won the MIAA Championship for the first time in 10 years with 176½ points, upsetting nationally ranked No. 1 Central Missouri and No. 2 Lincoln (Mo.) along the way. His squad will be represented at the NCAA Championships by 13 entries, tied for the sixth-most in the country. His team is among the most best-balanced in the country, with athletes qualified in the sprints/hurdles, distance, jumps, throws and combined events.

EAST REGION — Melissa Stoll — Southern Connecticut
Stoll, in her third year at Southern Connecticut, guided the Lady Owls to their first Northeast-10 team title since 2011 (setting two meet records along the way) and their first-ever all-division New England team title. She has five entries competing at the NCAA Championships, including athletes in the 100, 200, 400, pole vault and the third-ranked 4×400 relay. Her team broke five school records this spring.

MIDWEST REGION — Andrew Towne — Hillsdale
Towne, in his fourth year at Hillsdale, led a significant turnaround for the Chargers in 2015. After scoring just 44 points at the GLIAC Championships in 2014, his women scored 109½ to finish runner-up for the best team finish since 2003. A total of nine of his athletes and relays recorded top-five finishes at the GLIAC Championships. His team has been ranked in the top 15 nationally all season, and will send eight entries to the NCAA Championships.

SOUTH REGION — Scott Byrd – Shorter
Byrd, in his ninth season at Shorter, guided his Hawks to a No. 1 rank in the South Region. He has two athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships at 400 metres, including No. 4 seed Ayana Walker, as well as the No. 1 4×400 relay team at 3:39.76.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Bob DeVries — New Mexico Highlands
DeVries, in his 23rd season at New Mexico Highlands, guided the Cowgirls to a program-best No. 2 ranking in NCAA Division II, winning their first RMAC Outdoor title in the program’s decade-old history to end Adams State’s 12-year reign. In total, three individuals and two relays in seven events rank in the top-5 in the nation. He will send 13 entries to the NCAA Championships, tied for sixth-most in the country.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Jim Vahrenkamp — Queens (N.C.)
Vahrenkamp, in his third year at Queens (N.C.), led his team to South Atlantic Conference championship with a conference record 240 points. Southeast Region Track Athlete of the Year Nikia Squire will represent Queens in two events at the NCAA Championships: the 100 and the long jump. His team finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Southeast Region.

WEST REGION — Brit Townsend — Simon Fraser
Townsend, the coach at Simon Fraser for more than 20 seasons, guided West Region Track Athlete of the Year Lindsey Butterworth to all-time DII historic performances at both 800 meters and 1500 meters. The senior will contest both events at the NCAA Championships, She also mentored Jennifer Johnson to the No. 4 time of the season at 5000 meters and the No. 11 time at 1500 meters, but Johnson will not contest the NCAA Championships.

MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION —Steve Spence — Shippensburg
Spence, in his 21st year at Shippensburg, mentored his distance runners to 78 point in six events at the PSAC Championships, heavily contributing to the Raiders’ dominant team victory. Among those scorers were event champions in the steeplechase, 5000 and 4×800 relay. Two of his distance runners will compete at the NCAA Championships, including third-ranked steepler Peter Gelston.
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CENTRAL REGION — Chris Parno — Minnesota State
Parno, in his third year at Minnesota State, guided his sprinters and hurdlers to 94 of the Mavericks’ winning 202½ points, including two conference records. Among his athletes is top-ranked 100-meter sprinter Emmanuel Matadi, who earned Central Region Track Athlete of the Year honors. Six of Minnesota State’s eight entries to the NCAA Championships are sprinters/hurdlers.

EAST REGION — William "Bill" Sutherland — Southern Connecticut
In his 24th year at Southern Connecticut coaching the throws, Sutherland dominated the NE-10, coaching his athletes to 79 points in the four throwing events. His discus throwers went 1-2-3-4, which sealed the victory for the SCSU Alpha Owls at the Outdoor NE-10 Championships. His throwers also scored 34 points to help SCSU place second at the All Division New England Championships. His athletes broke NE-10 meet records in the shot put, discus, and hammer throw. Three of SCSU’s five NCAA Championship entries come from the throws.

MIDWEST REGION — Derrick Vicars — Findlay
Vicars, in his second year coaching throws at Findlay, guided his athletes to 38 points at the GLIAC Championships, with wins in the shot put, hammer and discus. The latter two came courtesy of his top athlete Justin Welch, who is No. 1 and No. 2 in the country in those respective events, and was named Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year. Of Findlay’s 12 entries into the NCAA Championships, six are throwers coached by Vicars.

SOUTH REGION — Antonio Wells — Kentucky State
Wells, in his first year at Kentucky State coaching mid-distance and jumps, mentored Kieren Broussard to the NCAA Championships at 800 meters. His 1:50.17 to win the SIAC Championships title seeds him as the No. 13 athlete in the meet. Additionally, he coached the 4×400 relay to a school record and fourth at the SIAC meet.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Chris Siemers — Colorado Mines
Siemers, in his fifth year coaching mid-distance and distance at Colorado Mines, guided six men to the NCAA Championships – more than half of the Orediggers’ 10 total entries into the meet. He coached Marty Andrie to the No. 2 time at 5000 meters this season, and Phil Schneider to the No. 5 seed at 10,000 meters to lead three qualifiers in that event. His athletes include five All-RMAC selections and two RMAC champions.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Bruce Strickland — UNC Pembroke
Strickland, in his fourth year coaching the sprints, hurdles and jumps at UNC Pembroke, guided his athletes to 73 points at the Peach Belt Conference Championships – more than half of the team’s third-place 136½ total points. He coached Shaquille Ray to PBC Freshman Track Athlete of the Year honors with a 100-meter title and a runner-up effort at 200 meters.

WEST REGION — Gary Towne — Chico State
Towne, in his 19th season working with the Chico State distance runners, guided his athletes to three CCAA event titles and seven All-CCAA honors. He coached frosh Alex Burkhart to CCAA titles in the steeplechase and 5000. Though Burkhart will not compete at NCAAs, Towne will still have six entries into the NCAA Championships.

WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

ATLANTIC REGION — Jon Morrow — Seton Hill
Morrow coached Mallory Sanner to a PSAC title and meet/conference record in the javelin. Her mark of 50.20 meters is ranked fourth in Division II and makes her one of two Seton Hill women qualified for NCAAs in the javelin. Morrow is wrapping up his second year at Seton Hill.

CENTRAL REGION — Tucker Woolsey — Central Missouri
In his thirteenth year at UCM, Woolsey mentored Heavin Warner to one of the greatest seasons by a thrower in Division II history. Warner broke the DII national record in the hammer, and will be contesting all three throws at the NCAA championships. She’s ranked second in the discus and seventh in the shot put. Warner also helps coach Central Missouri’s multi-eventers, and the Jennies have three women qualified for nationals in the heptathlon.

EAST REGION — Joe Van Gilder — Southern Connecticut
Van Gilder has coached three women and a relay to the NCAA championship meet in his third year at Southern Connecticut State. Sprinter Shatajah Wattely and vaulter Michelle Grecni are ranked in the top three nationally in their respective events, and the Owl 4×400 is the second fastest in Division II this year. Van Gilder’s athletes were vital to delivering a team title at the Northeast-10 meet and a first-ever All-New England championship.

MIDWEST REGION — Joe Lynn — Hillsdale
Hillsdale’s distance women have posted a huge range of excellent performances this season. Under Lynn, Emily Oren has run Division II’s fastest times in the 5000 and steeplechase, and two other distance women are qualified for the national meet. Oren’s 10:04.79 steeple makes her the third fastest steepler in DII history. This is Lynn’s first season coaching the distance events at Hillsdale, and his athletes account for four of Hillsdale’s eight NCAA Championships entries.

SOUTH REGION — Soyini Thompson — Alabama-Huntsville
Two Alabama-Huntsville women and a relay are competing at next weekend’s Division II national championship meet. Ackeisha Burnett is ranked thirteenth among 100 hurdles qualifiers, and Katelin Barber is tied for second among women contesting the 100 with a time of 11.49 seconds. Barber and three other Huntsville women joined forces to run DII’s thirteenth fastest 4×100 meter relay. This is Thompson’s twelfth year coaching the sprints and hurdles at Huntsville.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Patrick Johnson — New Mexico Highlands
Johnson and his protégé Salcia Slack took the team to its first-ever RMAC team championship over national powerhouse Adams State. Slack is contesting the long jump, triple jump, shot put, both hurdles, possibly the 4×400, and the heptathlon at NCAAs, and is ranked No. 1 in the heptathlon. Joining her at Grand Valley State will be elite jumper Shanice McPherson, javelin thrower Michelle Traynham, sprinter Stefania Gyamfi, and hurdler Osheen Erskine. This is Johnson’s fifth year coaching sprints, jumps, and multis at NM Highlands.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Travis LeFlore, Wingate
Third-year sprints/jumps coach LeFlore led high jumper Christina Matheny and long jumper Jillian Malloy to NCAA-qualifying marks in those events. Many of his sprinters and jumpers are in the top three in their respective events regionally.

WEST REGION — Gary Towne — Chico State
Towne’s women ran the fastest 800 and second fastest 1500 in the vaunted history of Chico State distance running. Bailey Henshaw ran 2:07.67 in the 800, and Olivia Watt ran 4:23.88 in the 1500. Those two women will be joined by freshman steeplechaser Alex Burkhart at the NCAA meet; Watt will double in the two mid-distance races. Henshaw, Watt, and Burkhart won the 8, 15, 5k, and steeple at the CCAA Championships.

COURTESY U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Media Relations

Paine's Link tabbed as next mens basketball coach at Clayton State

HEAD COACH JIMMY LINK
COURTESY PAINE COLLEGE ATHLETICS

MORROW, Georgia — Jimmy Link, a veteran of 10 seasons of college basketball experience, has been named as just the fifth head men's basketball coach in the 25-year history of Clayton State University as announced by Tim Duncan, Director of Athletics, on Monday, May 11. An introductory press conference will be scheduled on campus in the near future.

"We are excited to have Jimmy Link join our department as the head coach of our men's basketball program. Having worked with Jimmy previously, I know he embodies the qualities we look for in all of our head coaches – a passion to help student-athletes succeed in the classroom and on the court. We are fortunate to have Jimmy, his wife Jen and children Maverick, Beckett and Nash become the newest members of the Laker family."

Link, who has coached at all three levels of the NCAA as well as in the NAIA, joins the Lakers following a very successful run as head coach at Division II Paine College in Augusta, Ga. During his four-plus years in that role he compiled an 81-60 overall record (.574) and 59-41 (.590) mark in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

He also coached and recruited five All-SIAC selections, two Freshman of the Year, a Player of the Year and himself earned Coach of the Year honors. Additionally, he coached a pair of BoxtoRow All-Americans, a National Player of the Year and was named National Coach of the Year.

His teams have also achieved national recognition in several statistical categories, ranking second in the country in blocks per game (7.0 bpg) and 25th in field goal percentage defense in 2011-12 and

"I want to thank Clayton State President Dr. Tim Hynes, Director of Athletics Tim Duncan and the search committee for their confidence in me to lead the men's basketball program to the next level," said Link. "It is truly an honor to join an institution of this caliber with the opportunity to compete against some of the best teams in the country in the Peach Belt Conference. I look forward to getting Laker basketball back to where it belongs – contending for league championships and in the NCAA Tournament."

He joined the Lions as an assistant coach in July of 2010 before taking over as interim head coach in late December of that year. Taking over a team that was 1-4 and predicted to finish last in the SIAC, he led Paine to a 10-13 record the rest of the way, a berth in the SIAC Tournament and a surprise 68-65 victory over LeMoyne-Owen in the first round.

Following that campaign, Link was named as the permanent head coach of the program and brought about continued success for the Lions. In his first full season at the helm, 2011-12, he won six of his first seven games and produced a 16-13 overall record and a pair of SIAC Tournament wins as part of a trip to the semifinals.

That season also produced a SIAC Freshman of the Year award winner in Kedric Taylor, who averaged 10.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He was also one of just seven Division II players to record a triple-double on the year.

The 2012-13 campaign would see PC go 14-15 with a 10-8 league mark but make a second consecutive trip to the SIAC semifinals. Mario Jordan, an eventual 1,000-point scorer for the Lions, would go on to earn All-SIAC honors following the season.

A very impressive two-year span would begin with the 2013-14 season as Paine surged to an 18-13 overall record and went 11-7 in league. All-Conference honorees in Taylor and transfer Kenny Fluellen resulted in another trip to the SIAC semifinals.

What had been built over the previous three-plus years would come to fruition in the 2014-15 campaign. This past season, after opening 1-3, the Lions exploded to win 22 of their next 25 games to close the season with a stellar 23-6 record, including a 14-1 home record. Not included in that stretch was a near upset of Division I Kennesaw, 80-75, in a regular season exhibition.

As impressive as that mark was, a 17-2 performance in league play helped the Lions earn the SIAC East Division Championship before making another semifinal appearance. As is to be expected with a season of that magnitude, the postseason recognitions rolled in for Paine.

Link would be named the SIAC Coach of the Year while Denzel Dillingham and Arnis Libazs were All-Conference selections. Dillingham would add Player of the Year as well as Freshman of the Year. Dillingham and Link would add BoxtoRow National Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honors, respectively.

Dillingham and Libazs each were named All-Americans by that organization while the latter was a two-time SIAC All-Academic Team selection, earning that honor in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Prior to joining Paine, Link began his coaching career in 2004-05 at his alma mater, then NAIA Flagler College. That season he helped the Saints to a 23-8 record, an NAIA Sweet 16 berth and Top-10 national ranking before moving on to an assistant position at Division III Washington College (Md.) in 2005-06. While there he recruited 13 players, a group that helped deliver a 13-14 overall record, a number of wins that was the most by the program since the 2000-01 campaign.

As his alma mater made the transition to the NCAA Division II ranks, Link returned to St. Augustine as an assistant coach from 2006-08. Following a 14-13 outing in that first season, he helped recruit a class that resulted in a strong 20-7 campaign in 2007-08.

That performance helped land him an assistant position at recent NCAA Division I transition program North Florida in 2008-09. Following that one season he returned to Division II, joining Southeast Region member Newberry on Steve DeMeo's staff before making the eventual jump to the staff of 500-game winner Dennis Spry in the summer of 2010.

Paine was not Link's first experience being part of building a highly successful program as he spent four years playing point guard at then NAIA Flagler from 1999-2003. During that four-year period the Saints produced an 80-39 overall record but were an incredible 66-22 over the final three seasons.

Following 20-8 (2000-01) and 24-6 (2001-02) campaigns that resulted in national rankings both years, the 2002-03 season would prove to be among the best in the program's history. That year Flagler went 22-8 overall, won the Florida Sun Conference, was nationally ranked four times and made the first NAIA National Tournament appearance in team history.

Following his playing career, Link graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with an emphasis in Broadcast. He and his wife Jen have two sons, Maverick and Beckett, and are currently awaiting their third child, Nash, in the coming weeks.

What Others Are Saying About Jimmy Link

Frank Martin, University of South Carolina Head Basketball Coach
"I've known Jimmy since he was a real young high school player and he has always been a relentless worker that will make everyone at Clayton State proud. Everyone needs to get ready for a great ride that will be built the right way."

Selina B. Kohn, Paine College Director of Athletics
"Coach Link has done an exceptional job leading our Lions men's basketball program since 2011. All of his efforts during the past five seasons are much appreciated. We wish him the very best and I want to thank him for being a valued employee of Paine College. He gave his all to the Lions men's basketball program and he left a positive mark on his players. We wish him the best of luck at Clayton State and beyond."

Bo Clark, Longtime and Current Flagler Head Men's Basketball Coach
"Jimmy is an excellent coach and an excellent teacher. He has a tremendous passion and a contagious enthusiasm as a coach. I'm really proud of him and am really excited for him and Jen and their beautiful family. He will do great things at Clayton State."

Dip Metress, GRU Augusta Head Men's Basketball Coach
"I was very excited to see that Jimmy got the job at Clayton. He walked into a tough situation at Paine and he earned the job at Clayton through his hard work there."

Matt Kilcullen, Mercy College Athletic Director/Former UNF Head Men's Basketball Coach
"Jimmy Link is an outstanding young coach, not only because he understands the game of basketball, but he understands young people and his ability to relate and communicate to them is extraordinary. He will soon have Clayton St. competing for the Peach Belt Conference title."

Steve DeMeo, Northwest Florida State College Head Men's Basketball Coach/Former Newberry Head Men's Basketball Coach
"Jim Link is a proven winner on and off the court. He will be a fine leader of student-athletes, not only teaching them how to win championships on the court but also how to be prepared to either enter the workforce after graduation or play ball over seas. Tim Duncan, Clayton State and the Peach Belt are getting an incredible young coach who is an even better person."

Fred Watson, Benedict Head Men's Basketball Coach
"I am genuinely happy for my friend Jimmy. This is a great day for him and the basketball program at Clayton State. He is an extremely hard worker, a great recruiter and has a great understanding of the game. I'm sure he will implement the same frenetic, high octane brand of basketball to the Peach Belt that his teams have always employed. I respected what he was building at Paine. His teams were always loaded with talent which made them hard to prepare for. I am confident he will do the same at Clayton State because, I know for sure, he will get the best players, he will do his homework and they will be prepared. Clayton State has found a terrific leader for its basketball program."

Transactions
Announced that Jimmy Link has been named the fifth head men's basketball coach in the 25-year history of the program at Clayton State.

COURTESY CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Florida A&M Lady Rattlers Fall 6-0 To No.1 Seed Florida Gators

BOX SCORE

GAINESVILLE, Florida -- The Florida A&M Women's Softball team dropped a tough 6-0 decision to the University of Florida in the opening round of the NCAA Gainesville Regional at KSP Stadium Friday night.

Florida A&M (18-38) defied expectations of being a quick out for the defending national champion Gators (51-6), which had scored eight-run rule decisions against FAMU in their last four meetings, including last year's regional opener.

But FAMU freshman pitcher Veronica Burse (3-19), was unfazed, pitching five and one third innings, scattering eight hits, with one strike out and four walks, using a variety of outside and low pitches to keep the heavy-hitting Gators off balance at the plate.

Video

After UF plated a pair of runs in the first, they could only manage single runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, led by leadoff hitter Kelsey Stewart, who had three of the Gators' eight hits, scoring the game's first run, after reaching on a triple, via a double by Nicole DeWitt.

FAMU offensively was handcuffed by Florida freshman pitcher Aleshia Ocasio, who tied a UF single-game record with 17 strikeouts.

Ocasio's no-hit bid was broken up in the sixth inning, when FAMU's Amanda Weaver lashed a two-out single into right field.

WHAT'S NEXT: Florida A&M will face Florida Atlantic, which dropped a 1-0 decision to Hofstra, in a 3:30 p.m. elimination game.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Bethune-Cookman baseball advances to MEAC championship against rival Florida A&M

SALISBURY, Maryland – Bethune-Cookman used solid outings from starting pitchers Alex Seibold and German Hernandez on Friday, helping the Wildcats defeat Norfolk State (12-1) and Delaware State (13-0) in a pair of elimination games to advance to the title series of the MEAC Championships at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. This year’s championships are being hosted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

B-CU 12, NORFOLK STATE 1 (RECAP)
Junior pitcher Alex Seibold tossed six innings on Friday morning, allowing just a single run on three hits to help push the Wildcats past the Norfolk State Spartans in the first of two elimination games at the MEAC Baseball Championships. Bethune-Cookman took down the Spartans, 12-1, advancing to the afternoon’s second elimination semifinal contest.

With Bethune-Cookman (18-39) holding tonto a 4-1 lead heading into the eighth inning, the Wildcats demonstrated one of their best offensive outputs of the season with an eight-run eighth inning to enforce the run-rule decision.

The bases were loaded with just one out when senior centerfielder Jake Welch was hit by a pitch to drive in the inning’s first run. That was followed by catcher Clay Middleton’s two-run single past the glove of Norfolk State (27-16) shortstop Alex Mauricio, driving in Brandon Amendolare and Jameel Edney for the 7-1 Wildcats advantage.

Having won 12 consecutive games to claim the top seed out of the Northern Division, NSU went to the bullpen for the second time in the inning as Jeff Di Fulgo toed the rubber.

Bryant Munoz pushed across a run with a RBI single to center that scored Welch, followed by a sac fly from Nathan Bond that drove across redshirt freshman shortstop Demetrius Sims.

That allowed B-CU a 9-1 lead.

Redshirt senior right fielder Jordan Robinson and third baseman Jameel Edney registered back-to-back RBI singles, advancing the lead at 11-1. Robinson later produced the final 12-1 margin when he scored on an error charged to the Spartans infield.

The Wildcats plated the first run of the game in the fourth as Munoz began the inning with a double to left, later coming across to score on a throwing error charged to the NSU outfield.

The Cats got three additional runs in the seventh, using a Sims sac fly to plate Rakeem Quinn. However, the highlight of the frame was designated hitter Austin Garcia’s solo shot to straight-away center field – officially logged at 419 feet, putting the Wildcats ahead 4-0 heading into the bottom of the inning.

Seibold worked six complete innings on the hill, striking out a season-best 10 batters on the day. He scattered three hits, allowing just a single run to earn the win. He evened his record at 5-5 on the year.

The loss went to Norfolk State’s Stephen Butt who fell to 5-2. He was tagged for four runs (three earned) on three hits and walked three with two strikeouts.

Bethune-Cookman was led offensively by Munoz with a 3-for-5 game, scoring twice and driving in a pair. Robinson finished 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI, while teammate and catcher Clay Middleton was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored.

With the win, Bethune-Cookman advances to face Delaware State in the final elimination game of the day, in what is essentially a semifinal contest at 2 p.m.

B-CU 13, DELAWARE STATE 0 (RECAP)
Bethune-Cookman junior German Hernandez pitched five scoreless innings, combining with freshman Alexis Herrera’s two scoreless frames to help the Wildcats to a 13-0 decision over Delaware State in the semifinal contest of the MEAC Baseball Championships on Friday afternoon at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland.

Having fallen in the opening game of the 2015 MEAC Baseball Championships to the Delaware State Hornets on Wednesday, Bethune-Cookman (19-39) wasted little time avoiding a repeat of that performance.

With the bases loaded and one out in the first inning, Jameel Edney recorded a fielder’s choice RBI that scored shortstop Demetrius Sims for the game’s opening run. Austin Garcia followed with a RBI single to right, scoring Nathan Bond for the 2-0 lead.

Garcia was back to action in the third, driving in Edney from first with a double to left center. The LaBelle, Florida sophomore would come in to score himself off a wild pitch from Delaware State (16-29) starting pitcher Darrien Ragins, allowing the Wildcats a 4-0 lead after three innings in the books.

After scoring two more runs in the fourth, Bethune-Cookman put the run-rule into place in the fifth, plating seven runs in the frame.

Brandon Amendolare and Jake Welch scored off the bat of Sims, while Bryant Munoz scored Sims with a RBI single to center field.

That stretched the B-CU lead out to 7-0.

Bond drove across Munoz with a single through the left side, followed by Garcia’s bases loaded single through the left side off DSU reliever Tyler Cullen. When Amendolare tallied a sacrifice fly to left that allowed Jordan Robinson to score from third, the Wildcats lead stood at 12-0.

The final run of the game came off the bat of Welch, as he singled to left bringing in Edney for the final 13-0 decision in favor of the Maroon and Gold.

In his first career start on the mound, Hernandez worked five innings, picking up his best outing of the campaign in allowing just a single hit and fanning four batters against just two walks. With the win, he upped his record to 1-2 for the year. Herrera worked the final two innings out of the bullpen, giving up four hits and striking out two batters.

Bethune-Cookman was led offensively by the play of Bond who finished a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and a RBI. Sims ended the game 3-for-5 with two runs and a RBI, with teammate Garcia turning in a 3-for-4 effort with three RBI and scoring a single run. Robinson and Edney each gathered multi-hit games as well.

Bethune-Cookman will now advance to face rival Florida A&M for the MEAC title. B-CU would need to defeat FAMU twice in order to claim the championship for the second time in as many years, and advance to the ninth NCAA Regional in the past 10 seasons.

For the latest information on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, follow us on Twitter, @BCUDiamondCats. For the most accurate and up to date information delivered to your phone, download the official Bethune-Cookman Wildcats app for your Droid or iPhone.

BOX SCORE BCU VS. NSU

BOX SCORE BCU VS. DSU

COURTESY BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Green Bay Packers LB Joe Thomas (SCSU) should earn role

GREEN BAY, Wisconsin -- As the Green Bay Packers look to repair their inside linebacker position entering 2015, it is easy to become short-sighted. The quick roster turnaround that has taken place at the position sets eyes squarely on the new arrival of Michigan’s Jake Ryan, but linebacker Joe Thomas, a holdover from the Green Bay Packers’ 2014 undrafted free agent class, should push for a prominent depth role out of camp.

Now 24 years old, Thomas is getting a well-earned second chance to crack the Packers’ 53-man roster. After making some serious noise throughout training camp in 2014 and creating a legitimate case for a spot as a rookie, a knee injury in the preseason ended Thomas’ year prematurely. Impressed by his audition, though, Ted Thompson retained Thomas later in 2014 with an eye towards this coming season.



Sam Barrington will likely be joined by Jake Ryan to start 2015 on the inside, but along with 2014 draftee Carl Bradford, the door is wide open for Joe Thomas to earn a complimentary role within Dom Capers’ defense. The Packers’ 2014 season shows us that Green Bay may need several quality options at the position, too.

CONTINUE READING

Loss to LSU Leaves Texas Southern Facing Nebraska

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – Texas Southern University fell to LSU, 15-0, Friday night during the first round of the NCAA Baton Rouge Regionals at Tiger Park.

Thomasina Garza claimed the first hit for the Tigers as she slammed a single to center field. Her efforts went unanswered as TSU was handed its third strikeout to clear all bases. Ten runs were scored at the bottom of the first inning as the Cornhuskers used six hits to grab a large scoring lead.

Texas Southern opened the second inning with two outs when Gisella Parnanich hit a single through the right side, followed by a walk for Adreana Casares – moving two Tigers on base. A final strikeout came and ended the frame with zero runs. TSU finished the second by giving up another five runs, making the score 15-0.

After three innings of scoreless play, the game ended in the fifth due to run-rule. As a result of inclement weather, the game was delayed one hour and 19 minutes (in total).

This marked the Tigers’ second shutout game in the 2014-15 season.

The Tigers will face Nebraska tomorrow, May 16, at 2:30 p.m. TSU must defeat the Cornhuskers in order to remain active in the NCAA Softball Tournament. Follow live stats or Watch ESPN.

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS 

Historic NCAA Run Continues For WSSU Rams; Rolls The West Chester Golden Rams, 9-4

ERIE, Pennsylvania  – The #21 Winston-Salem State Rams broke out the big bats and hit four home runs, while the pitching held West Chester in check, striking out eight Golden Rams on the day, as WSSU cruised to a 9-4 win on Friday in the NCAA Atlantic Regional at Jerry Uht Park, in Erie, Pa.

WSSU jumped on the board first in a big way, when in the bottom of the third inning, the Rams would explode for five runs. Jacob Barber led off with a single, and Taylor Idol would later walk. After Des Roberts reached on a fielder's choice, Gavin Culler singled to center field scoring Barber and Roberts. After a Colby Keene single, Connor Andrus would hit a mammoth home run to left field to give the Rams a 5-0 advantage.

West Chester would chip into the WSSU lead with one run in the fourth and one in the sixth to pull closer, but the Winston-Salem State bats were too hot on this night.

After a Nathan Steger walk, Jacob Barber would launch a two run home run to deep left, followed by a solo home run from Alex Grubb to give WSSU a 8-2 lead heading into the seventh inning.

The Golden Rams of West Chester got one back with a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning, but once again the Winston-Salem State bats would answer.

In the bottom of the eighth, Alex Grubb would hit his second home run of the night, a towering shot to right center to give WSSU a 9-3 lead heading into the ninth.

West Chester would manage to get one more run across the plate on a solo home run to left center field, but Devin McLemore would settle down and retire the side for the WSSU Rams win.

Freshman, Tyler Scearce picked up the win, going an impressive 6.2 innings, allowing two runs, four hits and three walks while striking out five Golden Rams.Eric Corlett came on in relief and pitched 1.1 innings, allowing one run, one hit and one walk while striking out two batters. Devin McLemore closed out the game for WSSU, pitching the final innings, allowing one run on one hits with a walk and a strikeout.

The WSSU Rams were led at the plate by Alex Grubb, who went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, two runs batted in, including two solo home runs on the day. Jacob Barber also went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, including a two run home run. Gavin Culler continues to swing a hot bat in the postseason, going 2 for 4 with a run scored and two runs batted in. Connor Andrus finished 1 for 3 with a run scored and three runs batted in, including a 3 run home run. Colby Keene went 1 for 3 with a run scored, and Des Roberts also scored a run.

The WSSU Rams remain the only undefeated team in the NCAA Atlantic Regional.

WSSU will take on the winner of the 12:00pm game that features #5 West Chester vs. #1 Mercyhurst. Winston-Salem State will play this game at 7:00pm at Jerry Uht Park.

On Thursday, the Atlantic Region #4 seed, used a solid pitching performance, and got big hits from Gavin Culler and Colby Keene, as the Rams rolled to a 5-2 win over #11 and #3 seed, Seton Hill on Thursday evening in the opening round of the NCAA DII Regionals.

With the win, Winston-Salem State improves to 41-13, while the Seton Hill Griffins fall to 42-12.

The Winston-Salem State Rams go going early, as Des Roberts and Gavin Culler both reach with singles in the first inning, and Roberts was brought home on a Connor Andrus single to right field, to give WSSU an early 1-0 lead.

Seton Hill looked to get right back in the game in their first at-bat, but a double play from Nathan Steger to Taylor Idol to Jacob Barber ended any threat.

The Rams added two more runs in the seventh inning, as Jacob Barber singled to open the inning, and Taylor idol reached on a throwing error by the Seton Hill third baseman, moving the runners to second and third with no outs. After Des Roberts reached on a fielder's choice, Gavin Culler came through with single through the right side that would score Barber. Colby Keene would single through the left side scoring Roberts, and giving the WSSU Rams a 3-0 lead.

Seton Hill would manage to plate one run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but once again Hayden O'Neal, on in relief for Sam Burton, shut down the Griffins with just the one run.

WSSU would add two more important insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning, as Des Roberts would walk and steal second base. And once again, Gavin Culler would come up big with a double to left center field, scoring Roberts. Colby Keene would add another rbi to his total, as he would single in Gavin Culler before being thrown out at first to give WSSU a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

The Griffins would add one run, but Jordan Cummings would induce a routine groundout by one of the nation's top hitters in Nick Sell, to second base for the WSSU Rams 5-2 win.

The WSSU win is their first win in an opening round game, and head coach Kevin Ritsche called the game "the biggest in school history". It is the Ram third win in a NCAA Regional game.

WSSU vs WC BOX SCORE

WSSU vs SHU BOX SCORE

COURTESY WINSTON SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

Nuggets, Grizzlies will resume Saturday; XU leads 2-1

MOBILE, Alabama -- A Friday rainstorm caused the postponement of Xavier University of Louisiana's women's semifinal dual match against Georgia Gwinnett at the NAIA National Championships.

Competition will resume at 8:30 a.m. CDT Saturday at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center.

Xavier led the dual 2-1 when play was suspended at 3:50 p.m. because of lightning strikes in the area. Enough rain quickly followed to make the courts unplayable for the remainder of the day.

The Gold Nuggets, in the semifinals for the third consecutive year and seeded fifth, trailed in 5-of-6 singles matches, none of which were completed.

For the second consecutive day, Brion Flowers and Brandi Nelson scored Xavier's first point. They defeated Chiara Di Salvo and Helga Pinones-Haltenhoff 8-4 at No. 3 doubles.

Georgia Gwinnett, the defending champion and No. 1 seed, tied the dual when Valeria Podda and Laura Wehner defeated Caroline Vernet and Simone-Alyse Ewell 8-5 at the top flight. The Grizzlies' Luma Schwab and Victoria Svensson rallied from four games down to tie their match with Nour Abbes and Carmen Nelson, but Abbes and Nelson won the final two games and prevailed 9-7.

"We got off to a really good start in doubles," XU coach Alan Green said. "We got what we wanted."

Georgia Gwinnett won the first set in 5-of-6 singles matches. The exception was at No. 2, where Vernet led Wehner 6-0, 3-3.

Abbes trailed Podda 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 at No. 1 in a matchup of two of the NAIA's top three singles players. Carmen Nelson trailed Judith van Fraaijenhoven 6-4, 1-2 at No. 3, Ewell trailed Schwab 6-3, 1-1 at No. 4, Flowers trailed Di Salvo 6-2, 3-2, and Brandi Nelson trailed Pinones-Haltenhoff 6-2, 5-2.

"We're in a war in the singles because Georgia Gwinnett has stepped it up," Green said. "It looks like this is going to go to the wire. (Georgia Gwinnett) had a lot of momentum. The rain delay is good for some, but not all.
We'll finish the job tomorrow and see what happens."

The Gold Nuggets seek to become the first XU team in any sport to reach the championship round of an NAIA national tournament.

The other women's semifinal between second-seeded Auburn Montgomery and third-seeded Lindsey Wilson also will resume at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. The men's championship dual between Georgia Gwinnett and Embry-Riddle (Fla.) was pushed back a half-hour to 9:30 a.m.

The women's championship is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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NCAA clears SU for postseason play in 2015-16

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern University's NCAA-imposed postseason ban as a result of the unusable data probation has been lifted, interim athletics director Roman Banks announced Friday.

During Friday's meeting in the J.S. Clark Administration building, Banks informed the SU Board of Supervisors that all athletic programs are postseason eligible for the 2015-16 academic year and revert to having their Academic Progress Rate scores determine postseason eligibility.

Furthermore, Southern's fall certification is a key and ongoing component in culminating the department's unusable data probationary period.

"I think the university came together," Banks said. "I think [the] great leadership of this university, starting with our [Board of Supervisors], pushed - to the [system] president, to the chancellor, to the direct personnel at the institutions - to bring our departments together and have oversight and find our way to get pass where we are now."

"Now, [our coaches] can go out an have a chance to put ourselves in a better recruiting spot."

Beginning with 2012-13 championships, NCAA Division I institutions must earn a minimum 900 four-year APR or a 930 average over the most recent two years to be eligible to participate. For 2014-15 championships, teams must earn a 930 four-year average APR or a 940 average over the most recent two years to participate in championships. In 2015-16 and beyond, teams must earn a four-year APR of 930 to compete in championships.

Southern learned the 2013-14 student-athlete data submitted to the NCAA has been deemed accurate and serves as the department's starting point for the calculation of future multi-year APR scores.

For more information log on to GoJagSports.com for the latest news, scores and updates on Southern Jaguar athletics. Fans can also access the latest information on SU athletics through social media by following @SouthernUsports on Twitter and Instagram or liking the Jaguars' Facebook page at Facebook.com/SouthernUJaguars.

COURTESY SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS 

2015 SWAC Baseball Tourney: Friday Update

May 13-17, 2015 • New Orleans, La.
MLB Urban Youth Academy • Wesley Barrow Stadium

TOURNAMENT BRACKET | ALL-SWAC BASEBALL TEAMS | TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
TOURNAMENT NOTES | 2015 TOURNAMENT STATISTICS | CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
LIVE AUDIO (SWAC DIGITAL NETWORK) | MEDIA CREDENTIAL REQUESTS

GM	MATCH-UP	TIME/RESULT	COVERAGE
WEDNESDAY - MAY 13
1	#2 Southern def. #3 Jackson State	10 - 5	RECAP | PHOTOS
2	#3 Grambling State def. #2 Alabama A&M	8 - 3	RECAP | PHOTOS
3	#1 Alabama State def. #4 Prairie View A&M	5 - 4	RECAP | PHOTOS
4	#1 Texas Southern def. #4 Alcorn State	5 - 2	RECAP | PHOTOS
THURSDAY - MAY 14
5	#3 Jackson State def.#4 Prairie View A&M	10 - 1	RECAP | PHOTOS
6	#4 Alcorn State def. #2 Alabama A&M	13 - 3 (7)	RECAP | PHOTOS
7	#2 Southern def. #1 Alabama State	13 - 12 (10)	RECAP | PHOTOS
8	#3 Grambling State def. #1 Texas Southern	6 - 0	RECAP | PHOTOS
FRIDAY - MAY 15
9	#3 Jackson State def. #1 Alabama State	4 - 1	LIVE STATS | AUDIO
10	#4 Alcorn State vs. #1 Texas Southern	2:10 p.m.	LIVE STATS | AUDIO
11	#2 Southern vs. #3 Jackson State	TBD	LIVE STATS | AUDIO
12	#3 Grambling State vs. Winner Game 10	TBD	LIVE STATS | AUDIO
SATURDAY - MAY 16
11b	Winner 11 vs. Loser 11 (if necessary)	Noon	LIVE STATS | AUDIO
12b	Winner 12 vs. Loser 12 (if necessary)	3 p.m.	LIVE STATS | AUDIO
SUNDAY - MAY 17
13	Bracket A Winner vs. Bracket B Winner	2 p.m. (ESPNU)	LIVE STATS | AUDIO | ESPN3

Tournament Information

When: May 13-17, 2015
Where: Wesley Barrow Stadium (New Orleans, La.)
Admission: General Daily $10 | General Tournament $35

The 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament takes place May 13-17 in New Orleans, Louisiana at the MLB Urban Youth Academy's Wesley Barrow Stadium.  This is the second year the tournament is being held at the Urban Youth Academy.

The top four finishers from the Eastern and Western Divisions qualify for the SWAC baseball tournament.  The team with the highest winning percentage during conference play is the regular season divisional champion and receives the number one seed.

Last year, Jackson State claimed its second consecutive title after defeating Alabama State 9-8.  The 2015 baseball championship game will be broadcast live on ESPNU with a tape delayed replay on ESPN3.

COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS

Southern wins in extras to advance in SWAC baseball tournament

NEW ORLEANS -- The Southern baseball team moved within one game of playing for the SWAC championship when it beat Alabama State 13-12 in 10 innings, in a second-round conference tournament game Thursday at Wesley Barrow Stadium in New Orleans.

A two-out error by Southern in the bottom of the ninth let Alabama State score two runs to tie the score at 12-12. Southern regained the lead in the 10th when D.J. Wallace singled home Marcus Tomlin with one out.

The blown lead for Southern was the second of the game. The Jaguars led 8-0 after the top of the fourth, and trailed 9-8 after five innings. Alabama State pulled even with eight runs in the fourth, and added another run in the fifth.

In the ninth, Southern's Lance Jones hit a solo home run for what appeared to be an insurance run for a 12-9 lead, before Alabama State scored three runs, including the last two on a grounder with two outs.

CONTINUE READING

Florida A&M Advances to MEAC Championship with 11-2 Win Over Delaware State

SALISBURY, Maryland  –  Florida A&M (22-23, 15-9 MEAC) scored all 11 runs over the final
three innings to drop Delaware State (16-28, 13-11 MEAC) 11-2 and advance to the MEAC Championship Game which will be held on Saturday. FAMU starter Ricky Page (2-0) earned the win after pitching a season-long seven innings and tied a season-high with five strikeouts. Page only allowed one unearned run on three hits with four walks. Six different Rattlers had multi-hit performances in the win. The Rattlers have now won five straight games and eight of their last nine.

FAMU has totaled 27 hits so far in its’ first two games of the MEAC Tournament. For the second straight game, at least four FAMU players had a multi-hit day.

Marlon Gibbs was 4-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored, while Jeremy Barlow recorded a season-high three hits as he went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI. AJ Elkins, Ryan Kennedy, Brian Davis and Kendal Weeks each added two hits for the Rattler offense. Davis drove in a season-high three runs in the game including a two-run single in the sixth inning that helped blow the game open.

DSU scored first with an unearned run in the top of the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Jaylen Zielecki drew a walk with one out and scored from first as Austin Bentley reached on a throwing error from Kennedy. Kennedy’s throw to first went high and ricocheted off the wall behind first base and back into play.

Florida A&M finally got the offense going as it exploded with five runs to take a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Rattlers had six hits in the inning, including four straight hits to start the bottom of the sixth. Elkins and Gibbs recorded back-to-back singles to start the FAMU sixth. After a ball that was just foul of a would-be home run, Kennedy followed with an RBI double to right center to score Elkins. With runners now on second and third, Davis plated two more runs with a single to left center. After Michael Birdsong flew out just shy of the wall in left, a wild pitch from Hornet reliever Hunter McVey allowed Davis to come home from third. Barlow scored the fifth run of the inning on an RBI single from Kendal Weeks.

Weeks came into the MEAC Tournament with just two hits on the season, but has caught fire and tallied three hits so far since entering the Tournament.

The Rattlers added another run in the seventh inning to push their lead to 6-1. Gibbs led off with a single to short, stole second and moved to third on a groundout to second from Kennedy. Gibbs later came home to score on a sac fly to left from Davis.

Delaware State picked up its’ final run in the eighth to cut the Rattler lead to 6-2. Justin Allen led off with a single and came around to score after back-to-back singles from Zielecki and Bentley.

FAMU scored five more runs in the eighth inning for the final score of 11-2.

BOX SCORE

Delaware State starter Zach Candeloro (1-0) suffered the loss after he allowed three runs on six hits in five innings of work. Candeloro recorded three strikeouts and one walk.

Florida A&M advances to Saturday’s MEAC Championship which is scheduled to start at 1:00 PM. The Rattlers will face the winner out of the losers’ bracket between Delaware State, Norfolk State and Bethune-Cookman.

As always, fans can follow Rattler Baseball on Twitter @FAMUAthletics and live stats will be available via www.FAMUAthletics.com.

XU Nuggets win, Rush lose in NAIA quarterfinals

Brandi Nelson wins in straight sets at #6 singles . 

MOBILE, Alabama -- Xavier University of Louisiana's women's tennis team defeated SCAD Savannah 5-0 Thursday to reach the semifinals of the NAIA National Championship for the third consecutive year.

Xavier's men were eliminated in the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year. Vanguard rallied to defeat the Gold Rush 5-4.

The Gold Nuggets (17-9) will play defending national champion Georgia Gwinnett, the No. 1 seed, at 1 p.m. Friday at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center.

Freshman Caroline Vernet and sophomore Brandi Nelson won in doubles and singles to lead the fifth-seeded Nuggets past the fourth-seeded Bees (13-5). It was the first time in eight tries that the XU women defeated a higher-seeded team at nationals.

Vernet and Nelson both won 6-0, 6-1 in singles, with Vernet clinching at the second flight against Maria Barragan. It was Vernet's second victory of the season against a nationally ranked NAIA opponent.

Vernet and Simone-Alyse Ewell won the final four games at the top flight to beat Camille Gbaguidi and Carolina Viteri 9-7 and complete a three-match doubles sweep.

The Xavier-Georgia Gwinnett winner will play second-seeded Auburn Montgomery or third-seeded Lindsey Wilson for the championship at 1 p.m. Saturday. No XU team in any sport has reached the NAIA's championship round.

In the men's dual, sixth-seeded Xavier (13-8) dropped 2-of-3 doubles matches, but got singles victories from Tushar Mandlekar, Nikita Soifer and Adam Albrecht to build a 4-3 lead. Then third-seeded Vanguard (27-1) won a pair of three-set matches, with Daymon Johnson beating Manav Chakma 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 to clinch at the fifth flight.

Vanguard's doubles victories came against XU's two ranked teams, Kyle Montrel/Soifer and Mandlekar/Chakma.

It was the third time in five years that the Lions eliminated the Gold Rush. Xavier lost to Vanguard for the second time this season.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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TSU T&F to Compete in OVC Outdoor Championship, Friday

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Tennessee State track and field teams will head to Austin Peay, Friday, to close out their seasons in the OVC Outdoor Championship.

The two-day event will be the culmination of the hard-work put in by the Tigerbelles and Flying Tigers and will provide a chance for the squads to upend defending champions Southeast Missouri.

Last year, reigning Freshman of the Year Amber Hughes won the 100-meter hurdles, besting her prelim time of 13.52 seconds with a 13.46 showing in the finals.

Sophomore Clairwin Dameus continued TSU’s impressive outing by placing first in the 400-meter hurdles (1:00.74), long jump (6.22 meters) and heptathlon (5,399 points).

In the final women’s events of the day, Dameus and Hughes helped take home the 4x400 (3:39.99) and 4x100 (45.05) titles while also breaking the old Ohio Valley Conference records.

Jerome Henderson started the Flying Tigers’ second day of the championship by winning the 100-meter dash after a run of 10.42 seconds and Michael Johnson extended the solid opening by placing fourth in the 400-meter (47.79).

In the 800-meter, Quamel Prince shaved nearly two seconds off of his preliminary time the day before to come in third in the finals (1:50.90).

The OVC Championship will begin Friday with the decathlon and conclude on Saturday with the 4x400 meter relays.

    Order of Events

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