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PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida – Bethune-Cookman swept the Men’s Division I and Women’s Team competitions at the 30th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, contested at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, but not without the Wildcat men requiring an extra hole of work.
Although not mathematically impossible, a playoff in college golf is at least mathematically improbable. After three days and 216 holes, Bethune-Cookman and Tennessee State University were implausibly tied, having each taken 907 shots.
Fittingly, both programs reported to the first hole of the Wanamaker Course, where everything started on Friday morning.
Two groups and 25 minutes later, Bethune-Cookman emerged as Men’s Division I champions, having required only 20 shots to Tennessee State’s 21 on the 487-yard, par-5 opening hole.
Playoffs in collegiate team golf are “pretty rare,” according to Bethune-Cookman Head Golf Coach Loritz “Scooter” Clark. “Truthfully, at the end, I was just hoping for a playoff. I wanted an opportunity to see if we could continue it and pull it out. We were able to do just that. What was fun was, on the first green, during the playoff, seeing a different level of focus and determination from all our kids. They earned this. Tennessee State played very well and pushed us.”
Tennessee State’s bid was led by freshman Drew Owens, who was the Division I Men’s medalist at 221.
At 897, Bethune-Cookman’s women again asserted their dominance in the Women’s Team Division, claiming their record fifth consecutive title in the PGA Minority Collegiate Championship. The victory was also the Wildcats’ 13th in the 19-year history of the Women’s Division. A freshman, Shamiso Hatchard, set the tone for Bethune-Cookman’s 30-stroke victory over runner-up Chicago State University (927).
NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Tennessee State University student-athletes celebrated their accomplishments in the classroom as seniors walked across the stage as part of the University’s 2016 spring commencement ceremony at William Jasper Hale Stadium on campus on Saturday morning.
A total of 47 graduates from the TSU Athletic Department heard their name called as part of the ceremony for those graduating in May or with expected summer graduations.
“I’m so excited that we have such a large number of student-athletes graduating this year,” said Dr. Johnnie Smith, TSU Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services. “This is the first year that we have had this many students graduate. It proves that academics and athletics can ride together and students can be successful at both.”
Some of the accomplishments of the group from the 2015-16 academic year alone include three First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference selections, two OVC Defensive Player of the Year Awards, two OVC All-Newcomer team honors, two First Team All-America selections and seven OVC individual medals.
Former U.S. Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. served as the Undergraduate Ceremony speaker on a bright and sunny day at Hale Stadium as TSU student-athletes joined the growing list of the school’s alumni base. PHOTO GALLERY VOLLEYBALL
Madison Halterman
Haley Hampton WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Brianna Lawrence
GOLF
Blake Burgett
Kelly Merkel
Sarah Needleman
TENNIS
Kyle Burton TRACK AND FIELD
Travon Alexander
Shaquille Cragwall
Jalon McCutcheon
Sharrieff Slaughter
Jayla Burr
Clairwin Dameus
Ashontae Jackson
Keshae Johnson
Felicia Oladokun
Jasmine Owens
Oteia Prince
Sharmill Whyatt MEN'S BASKETBALL
Keron DeShields
Demontez Loman
Tahjere McCall
Jaleel Queary
Xavier Richards
Marcus Roper SOFTBALL
Lindsey Burgess
Lauren Dreitlein
Olivia Gamache
Taylor Green
Joselynn Yates FOOTBALL
Andrew Bather
Kilu Fontaine-Ellis
Isaiah Freeman
DeAndre Haynes
Telvin Hooks
Gershom Jordan
Antonio Justice
Sterlin Leveque
Jhaquelle Love
Sebastian Kertchival
Nathaniel McGill
Ryan Mitchell
Hakeem Parker
Thomas Smith
Harold Watson
Duaron Williams
Aaron Woods COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
The "Redemption Song" movie debuts on ESPN’s SportsCenter June 7 but will be online for the launch of the network’s new website The Undefeated on May 17
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Lincoln “Tiger” Phillips calls it, “a setback that led to comeback” regarding his 1971 Howard University national championship soccer team that was stripped of its title by the NCAA, setting the stage for them to redeem themselves in 1974. To Spike Lee and ESPN, it’s called “Redemption Song,” a short film that gives Lee’s ‘Lil Joints series a chance to chronicle a lost story in the annals of HBCU sports history.
A packed audience watched the debut of the film at Howard University’s Crampton Auditorium April 26 as members of the history making team were honored for their championship exploits. Their saga of blending a multi-national team of elite soccer players during the heart of the civil rights movement into what many experts say was the most talented college team ever stands alone. However, the resilience they displayed overcoming the adversity of a system that was prejudiced towards them makes it more compelling.
Phillips, who faced Pele’ in the North American Soccer League after his stellar career as a goalie in Trinidad and Tobago, made Howard soccer one of the most popular student activities on campus during the early 1970’s. The Bison played with a flashy style that merged the talents of players from the Caribbean and Africa. Their matches, on what is now Greene Stadium, drew standing room only crowds just off Georgia Ave. in Northwest D.C. In 1971 Howard became the first HBCU to win a NCAA Division I national championship when they defeated St. Louis University at The Orange Bowl in Miami.
However, the NCAA stripped Howard of its national championship using ambiguous rules. They ruled that four players lost their amateur status by playing with teams in their home countries. In addition to losing the championship they were also given a one-year probation and couldn’t participate in the national tournament.
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- The Prairie View A&M Marching Storm has been selected to perform in the 2017 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, representing the University and the State of Texas. This will mark the first Parade appearance by the band. The Marching Storm will join the Parade to the call of Let’s Have a Parade, the iconic phrase that has signaled the start of every Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1924.
Each year, the Macy’s Parade Band Committee looks for bands that have the stage presence, musical and marching abilities to captivate more than 3.5 million live spectators and more than 50 million viewers. The Marching Storm was selected from 175 applicants as one of 10 bands to march in the 2017 edition of the annual holiday spectacle. The band will join the revelry along with other iconic Macy’s staples: floats, giant character balloons, clowns and superstar performers galore on Thanksgiving Day 2017, helping to create an unforgettable experience for millions.
“New York audiences expect musical acts with big sound and incredible energy on Thanksgiving morning,” said Wesley Whatley, creative director for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “Macy’s Band Selection Committee is confident our crowds will be blown away in 2017 as we proudly introduce the Big Apple to the Prairie View A&M University Marching Storm!”
”We are thrilled to have this opportunity to showcase our band and represent the State of Texas at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2017. Our students and band staff are excited that we will get to perform for a national – even international- audience. They have worked hard all year and this is certainly a culminating event to a great year for our program,” explained Dr. Timmey Zachery, Assistant Professor and Band Director.
The Marching Storm will spend the next 18 months planning for their Parade appearance. Rehearsals and creative fundraising events not only bring the school and the community closer but also prepare the students for the march of a lifetime.
For more than eight decades, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has given thanks to what Macy’s values most –- its loyal fans. More than 5,000 Macy’s employees and dedicated volunteers work tirelessly to create a spectacular event that entertains the cheerful crowds and provides joy to millions at home watching on Thanksgiving Day. Stretching down a more than two-mile-long route in New York City, the spectacle is alive with gleaming color, music and smiles.
About Macy’s
Macy’s, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE:M), delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 800 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as to customers in the U.S. and more than 100 international destinations through its leading online store at macys.com. Via its stores, e-commerce site, mobile and social platforms, Macy’s offers distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy’s is known for such epic events as Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks® and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Macy’s flagship stores including Herald Square in New York City, Union Square in San Francisco, State Street in Chicago, Dadeland in Miami and South Coast Plaza in southern California are known internationally and leading destinations for visitors. Building on a more than 150-year tradition, and with the collective support of customers and employees, Macy’s helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities giving more than $70 million each year to help make a difference in the lives of our customers.
About the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:
With more than 50 million viewers across the country and more than 3.5 million spectators that line up along the streets of New York City each year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a national icon that has grown into a world-famous holiday event. For almost 90 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the official start of the holiday season. Growing in size and scale, the Parade proudly marches down a more than 2-mile route in New York City with more than 8,000 participants in tow including Macy’s employees, their families, celebrities, athletes, clowns and dance groups spreading holiday cheer. The Parade also features America’s best marching bands, fabulous floats and Macy’s signature giant helium character balloons. For more information on the Macy’s Parade, please visit www.macys.com/parade or call the Parade hotline at (212) 494-4495.
About Prairie View A&M University
Designated an institution of “the first class” in the Texas Constitution, Prairie View A&M University is the second-oldest public institution of higher education in the state. With an established reputation for producing engineers, nurses and educators, PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral degree programs through nine colleges and schools. A member of The Texas A&M University System, the University is dedicated to fulfilling its land-grant mission of achieving excellence in teaching, research and service. For more information, visit www.pvamu.edu.
GRAMBLING — A huge fifth inning featuring seven runs lifted the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff to a victory over the Grambling State University Tigers, 15-5, Saturday.
The win gave UAPB the weekend series win, and its third straight SWAC West Division title.
For the first time all season, the Tigers went 0-2 during a weekend series and they are in danger of a first-time season sweep by a Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent. The Tigers have been competitive with UAPB and other SWAC teams all season, but Saturday’s loss at Wilbert Ellis Field means a No. 2 seed for the SWAC baseball tournament in New Orleans later this month.
GSU head coach James Cooper was optimistic, shining a positive light on his team’s game performance, the weekend series and the SWAC tournament.
“We’re playing at home; that’s the biggest positive we’ve got,” he said after the game and looking forward to Sunday afternoon’s final series game. “We haven’t swung the bats exceptionally well here. Hopefully we can come out here and use this home-field advantage to give us a chance to win this game tomorrow.” CONTINUE READING
BLUEFIELD, West Virginia — The NCAA banners are up again today at Bluefield City Courts as Bluefield State College hosts the 2016 Men’s Tennis Atlantic Regional.
The NCAA selected the Big Blues, the No. 1 team in the region, to host one of the two Atlantic Region tournaments.
Today the No. 4 and 5 teams in the region, West Virginia Wesleyan and Chowan (N.C.), meet at 11 a.m. on the Bluefield courts.
Today’s survivor takes on Bluefield State at 11 a.m. Monday in the regional co-final.
On both days, doubles competition will occupy three courts simultaneously, to be followed by six singles matches. Admission is free.
The other Atlantic Region tournament is scheduled to conclude today in Edinboro, Pa. The two Atlantic Region winners will travel to Denver, Colo., for the national championship tournament on May 18-21.
“This is the seventh (consecutive) year we’ve made it to the NCAAs,” said Bluefield State tennis coach Louis Belt. “This is our fifth year to host the regionals.” CONTINUE READING
MOUNT ULLA', North Carolina — West Rowan senior Hezekiah Banks is a mountain of a young man at 6-foot-5, 335 pounds.
The offensive tackle also has run a 5.2 40-
yard dash — serious motoring for a guy his size.
“Hez is a very athletic big guy,” West coach Joe Nixon said. “He was a big part of our offense, and he also was a great character guy.” Banks, who signed last week with Winston-Salem State, spent some youthful years in New York, but his family relocated to Rowan County when he was still in elementary school.
Basically, Banks is an offensive lineman who has the mobility of a defensive lineman. He’s also blessed with extra-long arms. Those attributes explain why he was chosen to play for North Carolina in last December’s Shrine Bowl. Coaches had their pick of 10 offensive linemen from across the state. Banks is one of the guys they wanted.
“The Shrine Bowl was a good experience because there was a lot of talent there on both teams,” Banks said. “I blocked for a back (Freedom’s B.J. Emmons) who is going to Alabama. It was an intense game and we had a week of intense practices before the game.” CONTINUE READING
LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia — Top-ranked Georgia Gwinnett defeated No. 3 Xavier University of Louisiana 5-1 Friday in the championship round of an NAIA men's tennis unaffiliated group tournament.
The Grizzlies (22-0) won 2-of-3 doubles matches, then closed the dual by winning at the bottom three singles flights. Lachlan McPhee clinched with a 7-5, 6-2 victory against Tushar Mandlekar at No. 5.
The only victory for the Gold Rush (14-7) was at No. 2 doubles. Kyle Montrel and Karan Salwan defeated the ITA's third-ranked NAIA tandem, Matias Hatem and Connor Clements, 9-8 (7-5).
"This was a hard-fought match," XU coach Alan Green said. "Gwinnett is a great team and will be favored to win nationals. We played tough in portions of the match, but Gwinnett had answers for everything. They showed why they are the No. 1 team in the nation."
The loss was Xavier's first this season to an NAIA opponent. The Gold Rush have four victories this season against top-10 teams.
The victory was the 28th in a row for Georgia Gwinnett, the NAIA champion in 2015 and 2014, and secured for the Grizzlies an automatic bid to the national tournament. Xavier, a national quarterfinalist each of the past four seasons, likely will earn its eighth consecutive bid to nationals and its fifth first-round bye in the last six years. The NAIA will announce its next top 25 poll and the 24 national-tournament qualifiers Monday, then announce the pairings Tuesday. The NAIA National Championship will begin May 17 at Mobile, Ala.
Both Xavier and Georgia Gwinnett won 5-0 in the semifinals Friday. The Gold Rush defeated IU Southeast, and the Grizzlies beat 25th-ranked Asbury. Kevin Chaouat and Thomas Setodji won in doubles and singles for Xavier, and Setodji clinched with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Jacob Rankin.
JACKSONVILLE, Florida -- Junior college transfer Amariah Brown has signed a letter of intent to play at Edward Waters College. Brown, a 5'4 guard from Hartford, Connecticut, comes to EWC from Roxbury Community College in Roxbury Crossing, Massachusetts where she played for head coach Mark Leszczyk. Last season, she helped lead the Tigers to their first National Junior College Athletic Association Division-III National Championship in program history.
Brown led the NJCAA Division-III in three-point shooting, last season connecting on 47.1% of shots from the bonus sphere, while also averaging 10.0 points per contest. In her sophomore season, Brown started 21 of 27 games for RCC, averaging 32.8 minutes per game.
In her freshman year, Brown appeared in 13 games at Lincoln College of New England, where she averaged 22.3 points per game. Brown also shot 57.0% from the floor and connected on 49.5% from three-point range.
Brown played her high school basketball at Bulkeley High School in Hartford, Connecticut.
She will join a Lady Tiger program that set a school-record with 21 wins and finished second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. Edward Waters will return one of the most experienced teams in the conference next season after losing only one senior.
COURTESY GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
Carlos Andrade delivered four RBIs in JCC's triumph over LSUA
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana -- Fourth-seeded Jarvis Christian snared an opening game win and upset #1 LSU Alexandria stay in the winner's bracket of the 2016 RRAC Baseball Championship Friday. The Bulldogs will meet host LSU Shreveport -- which defeated #2 Houston-Victoria -- on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the double-elimination tournament at Pilots Field.
JCC pounded Our Lady of the Lake, 11-6, to start the tournament and earn the reward of facing LSUA on the same day. The Bulldogs kept the momentum while building a 7-3 lead over the Generals and holding off a late charge to win, 7-6.
In its only game of the day, LSUS exacted revenge on UHV with a 14-4 battering. The Jaguars swept all four games against the Pilots during the regular season.
On Saturday, OLLU and UHV will square off in an elimination game at 11 a.m., followed by JCC against LSUS. In the late game at 7 p.m., LSUA will await the winner of the OLLU-UHV contest.
Game 1: #4 Jarvis Christian 11, #5 Our Lady of the Lake 6
Jarvis Christian used a six-run second inning to build a 10-1 lead over OLLU before holding off a late rally by the Saints. Catcher Anthony Ortiz had a double and three RBIs, while Carlos Andrade, Koby Greene, and Nico Maldonado chipped in two RBI's each for the Bulldogs. Tyler Davis and Josh Razo racked up two RBIs each for OLLU. JCC earned a second game today as they advanced to face LSU Alexandria in the late game at 7:30 p.m. Game 2: #3 LSU Shreveport 14, #2 Houston-Victoria 4
As in the first game, the second inning set the tone for the Pilots defeat of UHV. Notching seven runs in the inning, LSUS built an 8-0 lead and never looked back. Jamal Martin homered and drove in three runs, Justin Danzer, Connor McMullin and RRAC Player of the Year Alex Montero collected two RBIs each. Robert Herrera doubled twice for the Pilots. Brandon Texiera tossed seven innings for LSUS, scattering seven hits and holding UHV to two runs. The Jaguars' Joshua Boothe racked up three hits -- including a triple, while driving in two runs. UHV had swept the season series, 4-0, over LSUS.
Game 3: Jarvis Christian 7, #1 LSU Alexandria 6
First baseman Carlos Andrade sparked the Bulldogs with a three-run homer in the first inning, and he added a run-scoring single in the fifth. JCC picked up two more runs in the sixth inning to build the 7-3 advantage that it carried into the ninth. That's when LSUA staged a rally with a two-run triple from Mark Traylor Jr. after Trace Oliva and Ziggy Sloan had back-to-back singles. Matt Telesco drove in Traylor to put the tying run on base, but JCC was able to survive with two pitching changes and a pair of fly outs. Luke Thornton picked up the win through six innings of work, while Luis Loya and Tyler Cobb helped maintain the Bulldogs' lead.
COURTESY RED RIVER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS
LUBBOCK, Texas -- The third-ranked Wiley College men's track and field team won three events in record-breaking fashion at Texas Tech University's Masked Rider Open Friday at the Terry and Linda Fuller Track and Field Complex. Quinn-Lee Ralph (JR/Trinidad &Tobago), who is a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American candidate ran 10.08 to win the 100-meter dash. His time broke his previous school record of 10.22, which he set earlier this year. In the 200-meter dash, Ralph won with a time of 20.78 - which broke Dan-Neil Telesford (SR/Trinidad)'s mark of 20.82.
Marbeq Edgar (FR/St. Lucia), who is a NAIA All-American candidate in the 800-meter run, set a new Wiley record with a time of 1:49.46. His time broke his previous mark of 1:51.08.
Moriba Morain (SO/Trinidad &Tobago), who is a NAIA All-American candidate in the 100-meter dash, finished just behind Ralph at 10.10. He ran a 21.11 to finish fourth in the 200-meter dash. Oraine Palmer (FR/Kingston, Jamaica) finished sixth (21.43) and Machael Mark (JR/Princess Town, Trinidad) finished seventh (21.49). Palmer also finished ninth in the 100-
meter dash (10.33). Woods finished 10th in the 400-meter dash (48.32).
Mark finished 11th in the 100-meter dash (10.57) and sixth in the long jump (6.78) Leonard Kiprono (SO/Eldore, Kenya) finished third in the 3,000-meter steeple chase (10.55.11). Roger Ali (JR/Trinidad and Tobago) finished 18th in the 400-meter dash (50.11).
The Wildcats hope to add to their national qualifiers in the Last Chance Meet in Huntsville, Texas, on May 14.
COURTESY WILEY COLLEGE WILDCATS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida – Both the men and women of Bethune-Cookman University hold second-round leads at the 30th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship, which is being contested at PGA Golf Club. The 54-hole, stroke-play Championship, which consists of six divisions (four team, two individual), concludes Sunday.
While Bethune-Cookman's women (597) hold a sizable advantage – 22 shots – in the Women’s Division over second-place Chicago State University and seem destined to collect their record fifth consecutive PGA Minority Championship, Loritz “Scooter” Clark’s men are in a tussle with a group of upstarts from Tennessee State University in Men’s Division I.
Riding the coattails of Drew Owens, who fired a second-round 74 amid windy conditions at PGA Golf Club, Tennessee State (603) is only three strokes behind Bethune-Cookman (600).
Following a breezy, but comfortable, loop on the Wanamaker Course, Owens said the primary difference maker was “the wind. It’s a lot harder out there today than it was .”
After opening with a 71 on Friday, Owens enjoyed Saturday’s showdown with Joel Ramirez of Bethune-Cookman. The two freshmen posted identical two-day totals of 145 (71-74) and are tied for the low score among Men’s Division I.
“Playing with Joel is really cool, although he hits it about 30 yards further than I do” admitted Owens, who hails from Atlanta. “Keeping up with him is an honor. He’s talented, and just a freshman, too.”
Owens is equally as impressed and excited about his team’s ability to keep up with Bethune-Cookman, which sports seven team Minority Collegiate Championships on the men’s side, including three in the previous five years (2011, ’13, ’14).
“Bethune-Cookman has an amazing history in this Championship, having won it so many times,” said Owens. “So for us to be right up there with them feels great.” CONTINUE READING
GREENSBORO, North Carolina – The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats made it three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships in a row Saturday by winning the 2016 affair at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University.
The Wildcats tallied 151 points to out-distance North Carolina A&T State, who was second with 134 points and Maryland Eastern Shore (110) in third.
Steven Thomas, of Coppin State, was the Outstanding Field Athlete award winner after winning the discus, finishing second in the hammer and fifth in the shot put for 22 points in the meet. Maryland Eastern Shore’s Khalil Rmidi Kinini was named the Outstanding Runner. He won the 1500m, 5000m, 10000m and 3000m steeplechase to accumulate 40 points.
Bethune-Cookman’s Donald Cooper was selected as the Men’s Track and Field Outstanding Coach for the third time.
“It was a tough battle all weekend and the weather really caught us off guard the first day,” said Cooper. “All we could do was encourage the student-athletes and keep reminding them the weather was going to get warmer. We strategized throughout the summer and with cross country trying to make it not another one-point affair and we did.”
The first meet record of the event was set by North Carolina A&T State’s 4x100 meter relay team of Maurice Eaddy, Christopher Belcher, Michael Dickson and Rodney Rowe in 39.58. South Carolina State was second in 40.35, while North Carolina Central took third in 40.42. The former record was by Hampton in 2010 running 39.71.
The second meet record of the weekend fell in the 100m as Belcher broke a 34-year old record in 10.07. William Haynes, of Florida A&M, held the record, with a time of 10.23, set in 1981.
2016 MEAC Men’s Outdoor Award Winners
Outstanding Field Performer: Steven Thomas, Coppin State
Khalil Rmidi Kinini, Maryland Eastern Shore (10,000m, 3,000mSC, 1,500m, 5,000m); Steven Thomas, Coppin State (DT); Ed’Ricus Williams, Bethune-Cookman (HJ); Christian Kinney, Hampton (Dec.); Sulaiman Fared, Hampton (SP); Frank Quarles, North Carolina A&T State (LJ); Rico Duncan, Maryland Eastern Shore (HT); Dominic Harper, Bethune-Cookman (PV); Michael Tiller, Bethune-Cookman (TJ); Maurice Eaddy, North Carolina A&T State (4x100); Christopher Belcher, North Carolina A&T State (4x100, 100m, 200m); Michael Dickson, North Carolina A&T State (4x100); Rodney Rowe, North Carolina A&T State (4x100); Trey Holloway, Hampton (100mH); Joel Roberson, Morgan State (400m); Mark Blackmon, Maryland Eastern Shore (800m); Chris Collins, Bethune-Cookman (JT); Christopher Gaddist, South Carolina State (400mH); Justin Hamilton, North Carolina A&T State (4x400); Dorian Claggett, North Carolina A&T State (4x400), Corey Aiken, North Carolina A&T State (4x400), Dajuan Harding, North Carolina A&T State (4x400)
All-MEAC Second Team
Perry Cabean, North Carolina A&T State (10,000m); Clifton Thompson, Norfolk State (DT); Nehemiah Lipford, North Carolina A&T State (HJ); Jerrick Powell, Hampton (Dec.); Christopher Lee, Norfolk State (SP); Kenneth Fisher, Bethune-Cookman (LJ); Oussama Chouati, Maryland Eastern Shore (3,000mSC); Steven Thomas, Coppin State (HT); Princy Dorsainvil, Bethune-Cookman (PV); Shane Green, Coppin State (TJ); Christopher Gaddist, South Carolina State (4x100); Jeffrey Jones, South Carolina State (4x100); Demek Kemp, South Carolina State (4x100); Tyrell Richard, South Carolina State (4x100); Ronaldo Ball, Coppin State (1,500m); Malik Lewis, Bethune-Cookman (100mH); Steve Coles, Norfolk State (400m); Maurice Eaddy, North Carolina A&T State (100m); Michael James, Coppin State (800m); Rolando Reid, Morgan State (JT); Evan Johnson, Morgan State (400mH); Rodney Rowe, North Carolina A&T State (200m); Joel Robertson, Morgan State (4x400); Donovan St. Louis, Morgan State (4x400), Stephen Varella, Morgan State (4x400); Evan Johnson, Morgan State (4x400)
All-MEAC Third Team
Xavier Walton, Bethune-Cookman (10,000m, 3,000mSC); Rico Duncan, Maryland Eastern Shore (DT); Milan Bullock, Howard (HJ); Taj Showalter, Maryland Eastern Shore (Dec.); Antony Britt, South Carolina State (SP); Nicholas Williams, Bethune-Cookman (LJ); Matthew Aleruchi, South Carolina State (HT); Trey Clark, Hampton (PV); Kenneth Fisher, Bethune-Cookman (TJ); Joshua McClam, North Carolina Central (4x100); Deontae Williams, North Carolina Central (4x100); Jonathan Williams, North Carolina Central (4x100); Issac Roberts, North Carolina Central (4x100); Desmond Fogg, Norfolk State (1,500m); Christopher Gaddist, South Carolina State (100mH); Dajuan Hardin, North Carolina A&T State (400m); Rodney Rowe, North Carolina A&T State (100m); Mark London, Coppin State (800m); Christian Kinney, Hampton (JT); Kevin Vincent, North Carolina Central (400mH); Nigel Brown, Savannah State (200m); Antwuan Poole, Savannah State (4x400), Todd Woodring, Savannah State (4x400); Brandon Davis, Savannah State (4x400).
GREENSBORO, North Carolina – The Florida A&M University Women’s Track and Field team captured its second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championship on Saturday at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University.
Florida A&M tallied 164 points to win their 11th overall title. Hampton finished second with 139 points, while Bethune-Cookman placed third with 106.
Andrea Aaron, of Florida A&M, won the Outstanding Field Athlete award as she accumulated 29 points in the event. She won the shot put, finished second in hammer, third in the javelin and fourth in the discus.
Hampton’s Ce’aira Brown won her third straight Outstanding Runner honor after accounting for 35 points. She won the 800m, 1500m, placed third in the 10000m, fourth in the 5000m and was on the 4x400 relay team.
Florida A&M’s Darlene Moore was selected as the Outstanding Coach for the second year in a row.
“The girls have been performing well this year and we executed extremely well in the field and distance events over the first two days,” said Moore. “That helped us build up enough of a lead to hold off everyone in the final day which we did.”
A top two finish in the 5000m run for Florida A&M helped lock up the championship as Cynthia Chelalgo won the race in 17:46.78 and Judith Kibii finished second in 17:50.96. Maryland Eastern Shore won the 4x400 relay, with a time of 3:39.97 and Hampton took second in 3:43.65. Delaware State finished third in 3:45.94.
BRONX, New York -- The Hampton University sailing team has qualified for the College Sailing Nationals for the first time in program history. The Pirates finished a program-best ninth in the America Trophy this past Saturday and Sunday. The top nine teams qualified for the national regatta, which will be held in San Diego, Calif., hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club May 24-June 4. The Gill Co-Ed Championships are scheduled for May 31-June 3. "It's like a dream come true," head coach Alessandro Ambrosi said. "We finally made it after all these years that I've been here… we made it. It was very tough, because like always we were the underdog. But I'm incredibly proud of my team." "The Hampton University sailing team is a true testament that hard work pays off," said HU President Dr. William R. Harvey. "I want to congratulate Coach Ambrosi and these fine young men and women on this historic accomplishment."
The Pirates finished with 300 points, finishing ahead of such schools as Cornell (11th, 317), NY Maritime (12th, 370), Virginia (13th, 388), Christopher Newport (15th, 450), Maryland (16th, 474), and Syracuse (18th, 539).
St. Mary's College (Md.) won the regatta – and the MAISA championship – with 192 points. Maximilian Kuester, Giuditta Di Laghi, and Joshua Williams sailed in the A Division, racking up 170 points while recording a second-place finish and two third-place efforts. The B Division – Luca Taglialegne and Elisabeth Kuester – tallied 130 points. The duo recorded one second-place finish, two third-place finishes, and a pair of fifth-place efforts. Hampton is the nation's only HBCU co-ed sailing program, and the Pirates compete in MAISA (Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association). MAISA is one of four conferences within the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA), the sport's governing body, and each conference sends nine teams to nationals. The program is in its seventh season under Ambrosi, and the team has won 18 regattas over that span – including seven this season. Prior to the America Trophy, the Pirates had won three straight regattas and four out of five. "This isn't the regatta you want to win," Ambrosi said with a chuckle. "This is the regatta where you want to qualify onto the national stage, then you want to win." Though this will be Hampton's first time competing in the College Sailing Nationals, it is not the program's first time experiencing the event; in 2013, Hampton and Old Dominion co-hosted the regatta at Strawberry Banks. For more information on Hampton University sailing, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com. COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The University of the District of Columbia's Simone Grant was selected as the East Coast Conference Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year as voted on by the conference's coaches.
Grant makes it a sweep of the ECC major awards on the year (she shared the Indoor honor with Chelsea Hayward of Roberts Wesleyan) and also repeats as the ECC Outdoor Athlete of the Year. She ranks in the top-five in the East Region in three individual events and in the top three as part of two relay teams. Her best event is the long jump, which she paces the region in with a mark of 5.76M. She's also 4th in the 400M dash with a time of 56.74s and 5th in the 200M dash with a time of 25.00s.
The Bronx, NY native was at her best during the ECC Championship, earning All-Conference honors in five different events to also claim the Most Outstanding Athlete of the ECC Women's Championship Meet. She won the Long Jump (5.72M), and 4x400M Relay (3:59.61), came in 2nd in the 4x100M Relay (48.43) and 200M dash (25.18s), and finished 4th in the 100M dash (12.45s).
In the four years the ECC has sponsored Outdoor Track & Field as a championship sport, UDC has claimed all four Athlete of the Year honors (Kaydian Jones 2013 & 2014; Grant 2015 & 2016), and at least a share of the Athlete of the ECC Championship Meet award in three of the four years (Jones 2013 & 2014; Grant 2016).
In addition, the ECC also announces the All-Conference finishers from the championship meet. The top two finishers in each event were named First Team All-Conference, while the third and fourth place finishers earned Second Team All-Conference distinction. A list of all winners can be found below.
2016 ECC Outdoor Track and Field All-Conference
Women's First Team
100 meter dash - Chelsea Hayward, Roberts Wesleyan & Terrilyn Britton, Queens
200 meter dash - Chelsea Hayward, Roberts Wesleyan & Simone Grant, Dist. Columbia
400 meter dash - Jerily Benjamin, Dist. Columbia & Kristina Button, Roberts Wesleyan
800 meter run - Gabriela Sloezen, St. Thomas Aquinas & Kristen Borriello, St. Thomas Aquinas
1,500 meter run - Rachel Hutchinson, Roberts Wesleyan & Kristen Borriello, St. Thomas Aquinas
5,000 meter run - Elizabeth Stirling, LIU Post & April Sablan, Roberts Wesleyan
10,000 meter run - Amy Trabert, Daemen & Kaitlin O'Grady, St. Thomas Aquinas
100 meter hurdles -Stacy-Ann Rowe, Dist. Columbia & Damira Banks, Queens
400 meter hurdles - Brianna Calderon, Roberts Wesleyan & Damira Banks, Queens
3,000 meter steeplechase - Cecelia Pfleging, St. Thomas Aquinas & Addison Sgroi,, Roberts Wesleyan
4 x 100 meter relay - Roberts Wesleyan (Danielle Budd, Kathleen Amstad, Kristina Button, Chelsea Hayward)
4 x 400 meter relay - Dist. Columbia (Marlena Wright, Jerily Benjamin, Jasmine Walker, Simone Grant)
4 x 800 meter relay - St. Thomas Aquinas (Kristen Borriello, Gabriela Sloezen, Meaghan Ventarola, Patricia Nersten)
High Jump - Saida Burns-Moore, Dist. Columbia & Myla Somerville, Dist. Columbia
Pole Vault - Kyra Kress, Daemen & Molly Luger, Roberts Wesleyan
Long Jump - Simone Grant, Dist. Columbia & Brittany Okon, Dist. Columbia
Triple Jump - Saida Burns-Moore, Dist. Columbia & Saralee Martelly, Queens
Shot Put - Katherine Mollahan, St. Thomas Aquinas & Brittany Sepe, Molloy
Discus - Brittany Sepe, Molloy & Emily Johnson, Daemen
Hammer - Brittany Sepe, Molloy & Danely Rodriguez, Queens
Javelin - Kristina Button, Roberts Wesleyan & Tiara Goode, Dist. Columbia Women's Second Team
100 meter dash - Kathleen Amstad, Roberts Wesleyan & Simone Grant, Dist. Columbia
200 meter dash - Kathleen Amstad, Roberts Wesleyan & Terrilyn Britton, Queens
400 meter dash - Danielle Budd, Roberts Wesleyan & Ronsheica Trotman, Queens
800 meter run - Patricia Nersten, St. Thomas Aquinas & Emilee Durso, Roberts Wesleyan
1,500 meter run - Rachel Prutsman, Roberts Wesleyan & Mackenzie Donahue, Daemen
5,000 meter run - Ashley Cheff, Daemen & Brittany Ward, Roberts Wesleyan
10,000 meter run - Veronica Stauffer, Roberts Wesleyan & Kellie Lawton, Roberts Wesleyan
100 meter hurdles - Saralee Martelly, Queens & Brianna Calderon, Roberts Wesleyan
400 meter hurdles - Saralee Martelly, Queens & Meaghan Ventarola, St. Thomas Aquinas
3,000 meter steeplechase - Hannah Putman, Roberts Wesleyan & Kymberly Johnson, Queens
4 x 100 meter relay - Dist. Columbia (Stacy-Ann Rowe, Jerily Benjamin, Jasmine Walker, Simone Grant)
4 x 400 meter relay - Roberts Wesleyan (Danielle Budd, Brianna Calderon, Chelsea Hayward, Kristina Button)
4 x 800 meter relay - LIU Post (Elizabeth Stirling, Kaitie Schillaci, Cllara Fischer, Talya Williams)
High Jump - Kristina Button, Roberts Wesleyan & Saralee Martelly, Queens
Pole Vault - Nicole Hein, Molloy
Long Jump - Katherine Dovi, Roberts Wesleyan & Saida Burns-Moore, Dist. Columbia
Triple Jump - Kristina Button, Roberts Wesleyan & Breanna Lyn, St. Thomas Aquinas
Shot Put - Tajah Franklin, Dist. Columbia & Ellory Roberts, Daemen
Discus - Kelsey Barnes, St. Thomas Aquinas & Ellory Roberts, Daemen
Hammer - Renee Lustin, Queens & Ellory Roberts, Daemen
Javelin - Brittany Sepe, Molloy & Aaliyah Holt, Roberts Wesleyan
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS
New York Knicks big man Kyle O’Quinn has fulfilled a promise to his family to earn his college degree from Norfolk State University.
NEW YORK, New York -- Over the course of his four-year college career, Kyle O’Quinn became the face of the Norfolk State Spartans men’s basketball program. He was named the 2012 MEAC Player of the Year and Lou Henson Award winner, and earned back-to-back MEAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Four years later, O’Quinn has finished what he started.
During his remarkable 2012 season, O’Quinn led Norfolk State to one of the most shocking upsets in NCAA Tournament history. He recorded 26 points and 14 rebounds as the Spartans upset the No. 2 seed Missouri Tigers, thus becoming just the fifth 15-seed to win a game in March Madness.
Four years removed from that incredible run, Ian Begley of ESPN New York reports that O’Quinn has done something else to make his parents proud: he’s earned his college degree.
“It took me a little time,” O’Quinn says. “But just holding that promise to actually complete it, it feels good.”
“I did a heavy load in the summer, obviously, and I’d take one or two classes during the year, but everything’s so mobile nowadays that it makes it a little easier,” said O’Quinn, who will receive a degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on education.
PORTSMOUTH, Virginia -- Charles Oakley has completed the journey.
A native of Cleveland, Oakley arrived in Virginia in 1981 as an 18-year-old freshman basketball player at Virginia Union University.
It was the start of great things.
Last Saturday, the powerful 6-foot-8 athlete known as “Oak” was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in Portsmouth.
“It’s a great moment,” he said in his induction speech.
“Family, friends, people who cheered me on, people who watched me play … they get a chance to see me in person, to come to the Virginia Hall of Fame. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Playing under former VUU Coach Dave Robbins, Oakley accumulated 2,273 points and grabbed 1,664 rebounds in four brilliant, All-CIAA seasons.
As a VUU senior in 1984-85, Oakley led the NCAA Division II in rebounding and was named National Player of the Year while helping VUU to a 30-1 record.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida – The FAMU Men’s Basketball Program continued its’ offseason recruiting haul Friday, announcing the signing of Tampa (Fla.) Freedom High point guard Nasir Core to a National Letter of Intent.
Core, a gifted 6-1, 195-pound athletic performer, was a three-time team captain of the Freedom High basketball team, for which he averaged 10.8 points, 4,0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game in his career, helping led his team to three District 7-A championships.
A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, who was MVP of the Hillsborough vs. Pinellas County All-Star Game, Core was also an All-Western Conference selection.
Core also starred on the Freedom High football team, as quarterback and team captain.
He was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletics (FCA), President of the African American Studies group, and a Student Representative for the Positive Coaches Alliance at Freedom HS.
FAMU COACH BYRON SAMUELS ON CORE: “Nasir Core is a difference making point guard who is the ultimate competitor. I am delighted to announce that he has joined our basketball program and family.
“He has a drive and a will that makes him a winner, I can’t describe it, but I know that he will help move our program forward with his work ethic, his infectious attitude and spirit. To say it bluntly, this kid is a winner.
“Nasir will represent our program and Florida A&M University well. We are pleased to welcome him and his family to FAMU,” Samuels said.
CORE’S H.S. COACH: Core was coached by Cedric Smith, a former player
at USF.
LORMAN, Mississippi -- Football has taken Warren Gatewood from Baltimore, Maryland to Alcorn State University and now to Green Bay, Wisconsin. The former Alcorn defensive back has signed as an undrafted free agent with the Packers.
Gatewood had a huge game against Grambling in the SWAC Championship Game, picking off three passes and returning one for a touchdown as Alcorn came up with a 49-21 win.
At 6'0, 190 pounds, Gatewood has the size that the NFL likes in defensive backs.
LORMAN, Mississippi -- Defending Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Football Champions Alcorn State University Braves will soon boast the nation's largest Historically Black College and University owned video scoreboard when they kick off the 2016 season at Spinks-Casem Stadium this fall.
The LED display is expected to measure 65 feet by 25 feet, will feature an impressive 10 mm pixel pitch and a high quality 1952x736 resolution. It will be capable of variable content zoning allowing it to show one large image or it can be divided into multiple smaller windows to show any combination of live video, instant replays, up-to-the-minute statistics, graphics and animations, and sponsorship messages.
University president Alfred Rankins Jr. announced plans and unveiled the design to a packed assembly of alumni gathered on the Lorman campus for commencement weekend activities.
"We are excited to announce this new addition to the Braves football experience and extremely grateful to the Alcorn State University Foundation for its historic investment because it is going to significantly impact the entire Alcorn family from our students to our fans to our valued student athletes," Rankins said.
ASU Foundation Executive Director and Manager of the Foundation's Development LLC, Marcus Ward said, "The ASU Foundation is proud to be a part of this project that supports the university, because it's the foundation for which long-term athletic and business success can be built. Alcorn and its fans will enjoy and benefit from the new experience on football Saturdays in Lorman. This will be a great enhancement and very beneficial for the best school, best team, best fans and best game day atmosphere in all of HBCU football."
The Foundation's Development, LLC has contracted with Laurel, Mississippi based Capturion Network, LLC, a division of Busby Companies, a leading multi-format LED display company to construct and operate the new scoreboard.
Athletics Director Derek Horne said, "Alcorn's fans deserve the biggest and the best. The new video scoreboard will directly impact the performance of our student athletes on the field of play and will enhance our recruiting abilities to prospective student athletes."
Businesses and organizations interested in advertising opportunities on the new video board should contact the Busby Sales team at 800-268-3260 or email sales@busbycompanies.com.
ALCORN STATE DIVISION OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
