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South Atlantic Conference Announces Award Winners at Food Lion Spring Sports Festival Banquet
April 21, 2004

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Awards Presented
Baseball
          Softball          Men's Tennis          Women's Tennis
Women's Golf          Coaches Service          Senior

ROCK HILL, SC – The South Atlantic Conference spring sports all-conference teams and award winners were announced at Knights Stadium Wednesday night to kick off the 2004 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Spring Sports Festival.

Nearly 800 players, coaches, family members and support staff attended this year’s function.

Lesley MurrayTusculum College’s Lesley Murray became the first student-athlete in conference history to be named Player of the Year for four years in a row, picking up the women’s tennis Player of the Year award, and also became a second-time winner of the Women’s Tennis Scholar Athlete award, presented to one student-athlete in each sport and recognizes academic achievement, athletic accomplishment and community service and leadership.

She has a 3.6 GPA as a senior physical education major. She has been on the Tusculum President’s List, Dean’s List, Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll. She is also on the Charles Oliver Gray Scholar List and a member of Alpha Chi Honor Society.

On the court, Murray is one of the most dominating players in the SAC. Murray never lost a conference match in four years of competition.

In the community, Lesley has served as a volunteer at local elementary schools and sports camps. She also helps at the Holston Homes for Childen and has participated in a road clean-up project and an Adopt-A-Family project with the Tusculum women’s basketball team.

Curtis Bell of Presbyterian College was named Baseball Scholar Athlete. He is a senior majoring in physics, with a minor in mathematics and business administration and maintains a 3.94 grade point average. He has been on the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll seven semesters, the Presbyterian College Dean’s List two semesters, and the President’s List, for having a perfect 4.0 average, for five semesters.

On the baseball field, he is a four-year letterwinner, but had a career year this season as a full-time starter, averaging .311 at the plate with two home runs and 22 runs batted in. He was named First Team All-Conference at third base.

In the community, Bell volunteers at the Thornwell School and Orphanage and Habitat for Humanity. A licensed pilot, he also donates his time and flying ability of antique airplanes at airshows and local events. He also participates in a Neighbor Day at his local airfield, taking friends and neighbors flying to see where they live from a totally new perspective.

Haley Allen from Carson-Newman College was named Scholar Athlete for softball. Allen has a 3.97 GPA as a senior accounting major. She has been a member of the Carson-Newman Dean’s List and SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll for every semester. She is a member of the Alpha Chi honor society, the Institute of Management Accountants and the Tennessee Society of Accountants.

On the field, Haley is one of the top hitters in the conference, with a .426 batting average. She leads the conference in sacrifice bunts, while also driving in 18 runs. She was named Second Team All- Conference at second base.

Allen has an extensive list of volunteer activities, including the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes Society. She works with Operation Christmas Tree, which gathers toys for needy children, and Angel Tree, which also gathers toys and food for needy families.

Marius DanMarius Dan from Wingate University received the Men’s Tennis Scholar Athlete award for the third year in a row.

Dan is a senior Business Administration major with a 3.964 GPA. He has been on the President’s List for six semesters and the Dean’s List for one and was a 2002 Academic All-District selection. He is president of the Alpha Chi honor society.

On the court, was named Second Team All-Conference.

He is president of the International Student Organization and one of two Wingate students to serve on the Academic Affairs Committee. He serves on the National Student Athlete Advisory Council, as well as the Wingate and South Atlantic Conference SAAC groups. He is a Presidential Ambassador and a Resident Assistant. He serves as a tutor at the Academic Resource Center and has been selected a Leadership Fellow at Wingate, a program that identifies campus leaders.

Martina Moo Young from Wingate University was named Scholar Athlete for women’s golf. She has a 3.787 GPA as a sophomore management major. She has been a member of the Tusculum President’s list, Dean’s list, and the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

This season, she ranks third on her team with an average of 82.3 strokes per round. She has three top-three finishes and five top-10 finishes this season, including tying for first place in the first tournament of the season last fall.

Young is member of the Wingate Student Athlete Advisory Council, and helped with the school’s Make-A-Wish Fundraiser. She is on the publicity committee of the Alpha Zi Delta sorority, a resident assistant in the Alumni Dorm, and helped run a golf clinic at Pinehurst for Aberdeen Baptist Church.

Kevin WhiteMatt BakerKevin White of Presbyterian and Matt Baker from Catawba were named Co-Players of the Year for baseball, while Catawba’s Thomas Wilson was named Pitcher of the Year. Tusculum pitcher Matt Galens was named Freshman of the Year. Catawba coach Jim Gant, who guided the Indians to the conference championship, was selected baseball Coach of the Year.

Stephanie WhiteWingate’s Stephanie White was named softball Player of the Year after leading the league in batting average. Alexis Kreske of Lenoir-Rhyne, who led the league in strikeouts, was voted the Pitcher of the Year. Tusculum catcher, a First Team All-Conference pick at catcher, was named Freshman of the Year. Presbyterian first-year coach Jeff Nickerson, who saw the Blue Hose finish second in the conference, was named softball Coach of the Year.

Hector RinconPresbyterian’s Hector Rincon and Paul Ratchford, who helped lead the Blue Hose to the regular season championship, were named Player of the Year, and Freshman of the Year, respectively, for men’s tennis. Their coach, Paul Maxwell, was named men’s tennis Coach of the Year for the fourth time in the past five years.

Tusculum standout freshman Danae Valderrama was named women’s tennis Freshman of the Year, while Murray received her Player of the Year award for the fourth time in her career. Pioneer coach Tommy Arnett, who guided the Pioneers to an undefeated season, was named Coach of the Year for women’s tennis.

Catawba sophomore Paige Haverty was named women’s golf Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Tusculum’s Amanda Bowen was the women’s golf Freshman of the Year. Catawba coach Sam Gealy was selected women’s golf Coach of the Year.


Spring Sports Award Winners

2004 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE BASEBALL AWARD WINNERS

FIRST TEAM
Catcher – Jeff Boyles, Catawba
Pitcher – Thomas Wilson, Catawba
Pitcher – Chad Gillis, Carson-Newman
Pitcher – Eric Butler, Tusculum
1st base – Sherman Greer, Wingate
2nd base – Matt Baker, Catawba
Shortstop – David Yount, Wingate
3rd base – Curtis Bell, Presbyterian
Outfield – Kevin White, Presbyterian
Outfield – Nathan Gravley, Carson-Newman
Outfield – Matt Wiley, Lenoir-Rhyne
Designated hitter – Jimbo Davis, Catawba

SECOND TEAM
Catcher – Jeff Mayo, Mars Hill
Pitcher – Matt Fairweather, Catawba
Pitcher – Matt Galens, Tusculum
Pitcher – Kevin White, Presbyterian
1st base – Matt Sigmon, Lenoir-Rhyne
2nd base – T.J. Graves, Carson-Newman
Shortstop – Robbie Bouman, Tusculum
3rd base – Skip Talarek, Tusculum
Outfield – Stuart Kay, Newberry
Outfield – Thomas Giles, Catawba
Outfield – Spence Southard, Catawba
Designated hitter – Gilmore Stevens, Newberry

COACH OF THE YEAR – Jim Gant, Catawba College

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Matt Galens, Tusculum College

PITCHER OF THE YEAR - Thomas Wilson, Catawba

Co-PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Kevin White, Presbyterian College; Matt Baker, Catawba College

SAC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE – Curtis Bell, Presbyterian College

STAT CHAMPIONS
Matt Baker, Catawba, Batting Average, 0.429 and Doubles Per Game, 0.57
Jimbo Davis, Catawba, RBIs Per Game, 1.67
Josh Wolff, Tusculum, Triples Per Game, 0.11
Matt Reed, Mars Hill, Home Runs Per Game, 0.35
Gilmore Stevens, Newberry, Stolen Bases Per Game, 0.64
Paul Link, Catawba, Pitching Victories, 7, and Earned Run Average, 2.44
Matt Fairweather, Catawba, Pitching Victories, 7
Chad Gillis, Carson-Newman, Pitching Victories, 7
Tyson Azevedo, Newberry, Saves, 9
Thomas Wilson, Catawba, Strikeouts Per Nine Innings, 10.56
Catawba, Team Batting Average, 0.316; Scoring Per Game, 8.69; Earned Run Average, 4.15; Win/Loss Percentage .725 (37- 14)
Tusculum, Fielding Percentage, 0.964


2004 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE SOFTBALL AWARD WINNERS

FIRST TEAM
Catcher – Brie Griffin, Tusculum
Pitcher – Alexis Kreske, Lenoir-Rhyne
Pitcher – Megan Elliott, Carson-Newman
1st base – Lisa Rogers, Carson-Newman
2nd base – Rachel Bailey, Presbyterian
Shortstop – Jamie Vining, Presbyterian
3rd base – Carey Bumgardner, Wingate
Outfield – Amanda Teal, Presbyterian
Outfield – Erin Rutherford, Carson-Newman
Outfield – Stephanie White, Wingate
Utility – Ali White, Tusculum
SECOND TEAM
Catcher – Rebecca Backman, Newberry
Pitcher – Samantha Slater, Presbyterian
Pitcher – Natasha Lindsey, Tusculum
1st base – Sarah Carleton, Wingate
2nd base – Haley Allen, Carson-Newman
Shortstop – LeAndrea Johnson, Carson-Newman
3rd base – Christi Benton, Carson-Newman
Outfield – Brandi Mueller, Lenoir-Rhyne
Outfield – Christi Hampton, Carson-Newman
Outfield – Grace Cunningham, Wingate
Utility – Lyndsi Craig, Carson-Newman

COACH OF THE YEAR – Jeff Nickerson, Presbyterian

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Brie Griffin, Tusculum

PITCHER OF THE YEAR – Alexis Kreske, Lenoir-Rhyne

PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Stephanie White, Wingate

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE – Haley Allen, Carson-Newman

SOFTBALL STAT CHAMPIONS
Stephanie White, Batting Average, 0.431; and Triples Per Game, 0.17
LeAndrea Johnson, Carson-Newman, Stolen Bases Per Game, 0.810
Erin Rutherford, Carson-Newman, Runs Batted In Per Game, 1.18; Home Runs Per Game, 0.24
Lisa Rogers, Carson-Newman, Doubles Per Game, 0.34
Amanda Teal, Presbyterian, Triples Per Game, 0.17
Megan Elliott, Carson-Newman, Pitching Victories, 24; and Earned Run Average, 1.490
Alexis Kreske, Lenoir-Rhyne, Strikeouts Per Seven Innings, 7.49 Carson-Newman, Batting Average, 0.345; Scoring Per Game, 6.45; Earned Run Average, 1.68 Lenoir-Rhyne, Fielding Percentage, 0.971 Presbyterian, Win/Loss Percentage, .784 (40-11)


2004 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE MEN’S TENNIS AWARD WINNERS

FIRST TEAM
Hector Rincon, Presbyterian
Paul Ratchford, Presbyterian
Graeme Lauriston, Presbyterian
Kshitij Dwivedi, Presbyterian
Roberto Robles, Tusculum
Jesse Puckerin, Tusculum
Ricardo Guitierrez, Carson-Newman
Diego Rodriguez, Mars Hill

SECOND TEAM
Pedro Galavis, Tusculum
Jose Velasquez, Catawba
Rafael Soares, Carson-Newman
Blake Ryan, Carson-Newman
Eric Noll, Catawba
Joe Kanekar, Wingate
David Blank, Carson-Newman
Marius Dan, Wingate

COACH OF THE YEAR – Paul Maxwell, Presbyterian College

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Paul Ratchford, Presbyterian College

PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Hector Rincon, Presbyterian College

SAC SCHOLAR ATHLETE – Marius Dan, Wingate


2004 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE WOMEN’S TENNIS AWARD WINNERS

FIRST TEAM
Lesley Murray, Tusculum
Danae Valderrama, Tusculum
Claudia Bolivar, Tusculum
Lauren Brown, Presbyterian
Catherine Bankhead, Presbyterian
Taylor Lynch, Presbyterian
Erika Bellettini, Carson-Newman
Nancie Gruber, Mars Hill

SECOND TEAM
Danielle Wilson, Carson-Newman
Tessa Caprio, Carson-Newman
Maria Nevarez, Tusculum
Jenny Rogers, Mars Hill
Elise Netzler, Presbyterian
Alexis McDaniel, Wingate
Courtney Luce, Wingate
Erin Donovan, Wingate

COACH OF THE YEAR – Tommy Arnett, Tusculum College

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Danae Valderrama, Tusculum

PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Lesley Murray, Tusculum

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Lesley Murray, Tusculum


2004 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE WOMEN’S GOLF AWARD WINNERS

FIRST TEAM
Paige Haverty, Catawba
Kristen Kyle, Catawba
Kelly Andrzejewski, Lenoir-Rhyne
Martina Moo Young, Wingate
Audrey Morgan, Wingate

SECOND TEAM
Daniela Kessler, Wingate
Carlie Gordon, Lenoir-Rhyne
Amanda Bowen, Tusculum
Stephanie Delgado, Lenoir-Rhyne
Amber Loeffelholz, Tusculum

COACH OF THE YEAR – Sam Gealy, Catawba

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – Amanda Bowen, Tusculum

PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Paige Haverty, Catawba

SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – Martina Moo Young, Wingate


COACHES SERVICE AWARDS

5 Years
Bobby McKee, Presbyterian College, Women’s Tennis
Jack Thompson, Catawba College, Women’s Tennis
Sam Gealy, Catawba College, Women’s Golf
Tommy Arnett, Tusculum College, Tennis
Bill Cooper, Wingate University, Men’s Tennis

10 Years
Bill Nash, Wingate University, Baseball


SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE SENIOR AWARDS

Carson-Newman College
Brandon Wright
Cody Hendrix
Ryan Haun
Mike Gaut
Wes Ward
Paul Davis
Christi Hampton
Haley Allen
Cristi Benton
Kera Croteau
Justin Ball
David Blank
Blake Ryan
Danielle Wilson

Catawba College
Spence Southard
Jeff Boyles
David Hughes
Brian Hatley
Scott Searles
Zach Snyder
Vivian Lee
Amanda Myers
Women’s Golf
Kristen Kyle

Lenoir-Rhyne College
Jason Bridges
Dustin Day
Josh Day
Jeremy Krech
Brian Neill
Jason Raines
Bryan Slagle
Brett Yates
Sarah Cox
Monica Crouse
Brady Horne
Casey Ledford
Brandi Mueller
Melissa Ortega
Amanda Troutman
Carlie Gordon
Kelly Andrzejewski

Mars Hill College
Joe Weidman
Trinity Phillips
Rob Griffin
Tom Foster
Sean Murphy
Chris Flynn
Chris Merchant
Carrie Murry
Audrey Riffel
Carlos Bracho
Brent Propst
Larry Putnam
Joel Vanderhorst
Brian Carlstrom
Gavin Williams

Newberry College
Gilmore Stevens
Tyson Azevedo
Billy Alm
Dustin Smith
Chris Griffin
Travis Moore
Jeremy Harris
Robert Locke
Jamie Maynes
Keith Camp
Stuart Kay
Jennifer Wilson
Lucki West
Amy Burnsworth
Laurie Epps
Jim Gilliam
Rob Hindall

Presbyterian College
Charles Assey
Curtis Bell
Philip Hauserman
Travis Hill
Kevin White
Brooke Norris
Amanda Teal
Nickie Templeton
Jamie Vining
Graeme Lauriston
Anne Gilmore
Lauren Ingle
Lindsay Slice

Tusculum College
Robbie Bouman
Aaron Frye
Guy O'Connell
Chuck Roberts
Mitzi Foust
Judith St. Clair
Laura Williams
Alejandro Rojas
Lesley Murray
Alison Stephens
Amber Loeffelholz

Wingate University
Andrew Brockington
Andrew Connor
Chad Emery
Sherman Greer
Wes Leach
Brett Townsend
Brandon Wright
David Yount
Stephanie White
Marius Dan
Brandon Richardson
Sara King
Daniela Kessler
Audrey Morgan


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