Nine Student-Athletes Recognized for Outstanding Achievements During the Month
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ?The Southern Conference announced its Athletes of the Month today for the month of October. 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 ? Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State
Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards was a unanimous choice the Southern Conference Athlete of the Month for football. Edwards helped lead the Mountaineers to a perfect 5-0 record during the month.
For the month, the junior averaged 330 total yards of offense per game and accounted for 24 touchdowns. He passed for 1,261 yards and 16 touchdowns, with no interceptions. On the ground he rushed for 389 yards and eight touchdowns. Edwards also secured four of the five conference offensive player of the week awards during this time frame.
Also nominated for this month’s award were The Citadel’s Andre Roberts, Elon’s Terrell Hudgins, Georgia Southern’s Antonio Henton, Samford’s Chris Evans, Western Carolina’s Zach Jaynes and Wofford’s Ben Widmyer.
Defense ? Mark LeGree, Appalachian State
Appalachian State defensive back Mark LeGree has been named the league’s football defensive Athlete of the Month, following a four-game stretch in which he intercepted five passes to vault himself into the national lead for INTs.
LeGree had at least one INT in each of the final three games of the month, including one at the goal line in the waning seconds of ASU’s 37-36 win at Georgia Southern and a school-record-tying three in the Mountaineers’ 70-24 defeat of No. 3 Wofford.
Also nominated for this award was Elon’s Nolan Ward, Furman’s William Middleton, Georgia Southern’s Chris Covington, Samford’s Bryce Smith, Western Carolina’s Adrian McLeod and Wofford’s James Mitchell.
Men’s Soccer
Justin Wyatt, Elon
Elon midfielder Justin Wyatt has been named the Southern Conference Athlete of the Month for men’s soccer. Wyatt helped lead the Phoenix to a 6-2-0 month, including a perfect 6-0-0 record in conference play.
For the month, the junior scored seven goals and led the league in both goals and points. He has scored at least one goal in every SoCon match this season. He scored game-winners in Phoenix victories over Appalachian State and College of Charleston.
Also nominated for this month’s award were Appalachian State’s Juan Obregon, Davidson’s Yannick Pilgrim, Furman’s Patrick Murray and Georgia Southern’s B.J. Reine.
Women’s Soccer
Katelynn Donovan, UNC Greensboro
UNC Greensboro forward Katelynn Donovan has been named Southern Conference Athlete of the Month for women’s soccer. Donovan helped lead the Spartans to an undefeated month at 9-0-0.
During the month of October, the senior scored 10 goals and two assists, including four game-winning goals. She had 22 points total.
Also nominated for this month’s award were Chattanooga’s DK Henry, Davidson’s Kyri Bye-Nagel, Furman’s Martha Hall, Georgia Southern’s Ashley Toussaint, Samford’s Alyssa Whitehead, Western Carolina’s Bri Cunningham and Wofford’s Cassie Rex.
Volleyball
Lara Newberry, Chattanooga
Chattanooga libero Lara Newberry has been tabbed the Southern Conference Athlete of the Month for volleyball. Newberry helped lead the Lady Mocs to a 9-3 record.
During the month of October, Newberry set a pair of records. On October 11, the senior set a school record for digs in a match when she recorded 51 in a match against Wofford. However, the biggest record Newberry broke was the NCAA career record for digs. On October 8, Newberry recorded her 2,792th dig in a match against Samford. She now has 3,041 for her career. On the month, she averaged 7.79 digs per set.
Also nominated for this month’s award were College of Charleston’s Cole Dawley, The Citadel’s Jessica Maas, Davidson’s Sarabeth Peele, Elon’s Caroline Lemke, Furman’s Nicole Palazzo, Georgia Southern’s Bethany Sanford, UNC Greensboro’s Kayren Finney, Samford’s Ashley Adams, Western Carolina’s Katie Hennessey and Wofford’s Joanna Suddath.
Men’s Cross Country
Emmanuel Kirwa, Chattanooga
Chattanooga sophomore Emmanuel Kirwa has been named the Southern Conference Athlete of the Month for men’s cross country. Kirwa competed in two races during the month, and finished with a pair of second place finishes.
On October 11, Kirwa competed in the Great American Cross Country Festival in Hoover, Ala. There he finished in second with a time of 25:28.06 for the 8K. The Mocs finished in first-place. A week later, the Kapsabet, Kenya native, finished second in the 5K race at the Front Runner Invitational with a time of 15:12. The Mocs finished in third-place.
Women’s Cross Country
Meg Gaffney, Appalachian State
Appalachian State graduate student Meg Gaffney has been selected as the Southern Conference Athlete of the Month for women’s cross country.
Gaffney was the first collegiate runner to cross the finish line at the Blue Ridge Open on October 17 as she completed the 5K course in a course-record 18:00. At the Paul Short 6K run on October 3, Gaffney recorded a time of 21:17 to finish 34th overall in a highly-competitive field of more than 300 runners.
Men’s Golf
Logan Blondell, Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern sophomore Logan Blondell has been named the Southern Conference Athlete of the Month for men’s golf.
Blondell competed in two tournaments during the month, winning one individual title and finishing ninth in another. During the Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate, Blondell shot a three-round average of 70.7 to win the individual title in a two-hole playoff. He shot a career-low 67 in the first round of the tournament. Blondell also finish ninth in the Landfall Tradition, which included three nationally-ranked teams.
Also nominated for this month’s award were Appalachian State’s Casey Johnson, Davidson’s Michael Saari, Elon’s Jayson Judy, Furman’s Anthony Aloi, UNC Greensboro’s Drew Younts, Samford’s Ian Cutting and Western Carolina’s Martin Summer.
Women’s Golf
Steffi Kirchmayr, College of Charleston
College of Charleston senior Steffi Kirchmayr has been named the Southern Conference Athlete of the Month for women’s golf.
Kirchmayr compiled two top 15 finishes in a pair of tournaments during the month of October. In the Stono Cup, she finished tied for first with teammate Fiona Puyo, after shooting a three-round total 227. In the Palmetto Collegiate, she finished 15th after a three-round total of 230.
Also nominated for this month’s award were Elon’s Danielle Mills, Furman’s Blair Lamb, Samford’s Sara Hunt, Chattanooga’s Maria Salinas and Western Carolina’s Blaire Minter.