SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference announced its Athletes of the Month today for the month of September. Athletes from the following fall sports were chosen: football (offensive and defensive), men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s golf and women’s golf. The athletes are chosen by the conference sports information directors for football, soccer, volleyball and golf and by the conference head coaches for cross country.
Football
Offense
Furman quarterback Jordan Sorrells has been named the SoCon Offensive Athlete of the Month for football. In four games in September, Sorrells led the Paladins to a 3-1 record, with the lone loss being to FBS member Virginia Tech, 24-7. He passed for 910 yards and seven touchdowns with only two interceptions during the month and leads the conference in passing efficiency with a 151.7 rating. The junior led the No. 17 Paladins to a 23-21 upset of then-No. 6 Delaware on September 20 at Paladin Stadium. The victory was the highest ranked opponent defeated by a SoCon school this season.
Other nominees for the award this month were Elon’s Scott Riddle, The Citadel’s Andre Roberts, Georgia Southern’s Antonio Henton, Appalachian State’s Robert Welton, Samford’s Chris Evans, Western Carolina’s Adam Hearns and Wofford’s Dane Romero.
Defense
Wofford linebacker Seth Goldwire has been named the SoCon Defensive Athlete of the Month for football. In three games in September, Goldwire helped lead the Terriers to a 2-1 record, with their lone loss to FBS member South Carolina, 23-13. The senior led the Terriers in tackles for the month with 31. In a 38-37 victory over then-No. 22 Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga., Goldwire tallied 11 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Other nominees for the award this month were Georgia Southern’s Quentin Taylor, Furman’s William Middleton, Elon’s Brandon Wiggins, Chattanooga’s Jarvis Newson, Appalachian State’s Jacque Roman, The Citadel’s Reggie Rice, Samford’s Ty Levie and Western Carolina’s Chris Collins.
Men’s Soccer
Furman forward Coleton Henning has been named the SoCon Athlete of the Month for men’s soccer. Henning scored four goals and tallied two assists for the Paladins as they finished the month with a 5-3-1 record. The freshman scored three of his four goals and earned SoCon Player of the Week honors last week as the Paladins defeated No. 19 South Carolina, Lipscomb and Belmont to run their record to 4-0-1 in their last five matches.
Other nominees for the award this month were Appalachian State’s Arie Muniz, College of Charleston’s Matt Morris, Davidson’s Alex Caskey, Elon’s Justin Wyatt, Georgia Southern’s Daniel Smith and Wofford’s Wilson Hood.
Women’s Soccer
College of Charleston midfielder Megan Manthey has been named the SoCon Athlete of the Month for women’s soccer. Manthey scored five goals and tallied two assists in eight matches during the month of September as the Cougars compiled a 5-2-1 record. The senior scored three game-winning goals in wins over Presbyterian, Lehigh and High Point. She also scored a game-tying goal and assisted on a game-winning goal.
Other nominees for the award this month were Chattanooga’s D.K. Henry, Davidson’s Stephanie Gerow, Elon’s Susannah Gianakos, Furman’s Rachel Fry, Georgia Southern’s Ashley Toussaint, Samford’s Cayley Winters, The Citadel’s Nikki Mares, UNC Greensboro’s Nicole Danford and Western Carolina’s Arlan Whittle.
Volleyball
Samford outside hitter Ashley Adams has been named Southern Conference Athlete of the Month for volleyball. The first-year law student averaged 4.38 kills per set and 2.5 digs per set during the month. She was named to the all-tournament teams of both the War Eagle Invitational and the Crimson Tide Invitational and has been honored as SoCon Player of the Week two out of five times. The senior was recogonized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association after a five-set match with Murray State at the Crimson Tide Invitational on Sept. 12 where she knocked down a school-record 31 kills. Her performance helped lead the Bulldogs to a 3-2 win over the Racers and earned her a place in the AVCA’s 30-Kills Club.
Other nominees for the award this month were Wofford’s Shanna Hughes, College of Charleston’s Cole Dawley, Georgia Southern’s Bethany Sanford, UNC Greensboro’s Kayren Finney, Chattanooga’s Lara Newberry, Elon’s Caroline Lemke, Western Carolina’s Carrie Minogue, Appalachian State’s Carla Durham, Davidson’s Sarabeth Peele, The Citadel’s Jessica Maas and Furman’s Ali West.
Men’s Cross Country
Furman senior Patrick Morgan has been named Southern Conference Athlete of the Month for men’s cross country. Morgan has competed in three meets for the Paladins this month and finished in the top three in two of those races. On September 6, Morgan won the Eye Opener Invitational 8K race with a time of 25:31, as the Paladins finished fourth out of 11 teams. On September 13, the Danville, Ky., native finished 12th in the Naval Academy Invitational race with a time of 25:27. The Paladins finished seventh out of 14 teams. Finally, on September 27, Morgan finished third in the 8K race at The Citadel Invitational with a time of 26:51. The Paladins won the seven-team meet. Morgan has won two Runner of the Week awards during the month of September.
Other nominees for the award this month were Western Carolina’s Stephen Hammond, Appalachian State’s Phil Mitchell and Furman’s Michael Warner.
Women’s Cross Country
Furman senior Lauren Tomory has been named the SoCon Athlete of the Month for women’s cross country. Tomory, who plays for the Lady Paladin tennis team and is in her first season racing for the Paladin cross country team, competed in two meets this month and finished in the top three both times. On September 6, Tomory finished second at the Eye Opener Invitational 5K race with a time of 18:27, which helped the Paladins to a fourth-place finish out of 13 teams. On September 13, the Vicenza, Italy, native placed third at the Salty Dog Invitational 6K race in Annapolis, Md., with a time of 22:44. The Paladins finished in fifth-place out of 15 teams. Tomory has won two Runner of the Week awards during the month of September.
Other nominees for the award this month were Appalachian State’s Meg Gaffney and Furman’s Chloe Kowalski.
Men’s Golf
Chattanooga senior Ben Rickett has been named SoCon Athlete of the Month for men’s golf. Rickett began the month tied for second at the Aldila Scenic City Invitational with a three-round total of 205. He helped lead the Mocs to a first-place finish. Rickett next traveled to the Carpet Capital Collegiate Classic where he placed in the top 20 to help lead the Mocs to another first-place finish. With the win, the Mocs claimed the No. 1 ranking in the country. Rickett concluded the month with an eighth place finish at the Ping/GolfWeek Preview. Fourteen of 15 teams in the tournament were ranked in the top 20.
Other nominees for the award this month were Western Carolina’s Andres Cuenca, Elon’s Stephen Dressel, Georgia Southern’s Jordan Johnstun, Davidson’s Michael Saari, Samford’s Andrew Villareal and Wofford’s Garrett Medeiros.
Women’s Golf
Western Carolina freshman Blaire Minter has been named the SoCon Athlete of the Month for women’s golf. Minter won her first collegiate tournament in her first start for the Catamounts at the Draper Valley Intercollegiate. She shot a two-day total of 144 to win the tournament as the Catamounts finished second. At the Great Smokies Intercollegiate, Minter finished tied for fourth with a two-day total of 142 as the Catamounts won the team title. They currently rank No. 66 in the national rankings.
Other nominees for the award this month were Chattanooga’s Emma de Groot, Wofford’s Sarah Hurt, Furman’s Jackie Hilea, Elon’s Danielle Mills, Samford’s Katelyn Stanier and The Citadel’s Alanna-Jean Keith.