Eleven Student-Athletes Honored for Excellence in Competition
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference announced its February athletes of the month today, highlighting excellence among student-athletes during the month. The athletes of the month are nominated by each member institution and selected by the conference office.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Donald Sims, Appalachian State, Jr., G
Sims averaged 22.6 points in 10 games in the month, with a high of 30 against Georgia Southern (on 11-of-14 shooting) and 20 or more in seven of the contests. The junior led the Mountaineers to a 7-1 league record in the month, as the squad’s lone SoCon loss came by one point at College of Charleston. Sims was twice named league player of the week during the month (Feb. 9 and Feb. 16) and he sank five three-pointers and scored 25 points to lead ASU to a win in the ESPNU BracketBuster matchup against Tennessee Tech.
Other Nominees: Andrew Goudelock (College of Charleston), Harrison DuPont (The Citadel), Jake Cohen (Davidson), Adam Constantine (Elon), Rickey Taylor (Chattanooga), Brandon Giles (Western Carolina) and Noah Dahlman (Wofford).
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Sam Ramirez, Appalachian State, Jr., G
Ramirez scored in double figures in all nine contests during the month, as she averaged 17.8 points per game and shot a stout 42 percent from behind the arc. She twice eclipsed the 20-point mark, as she matched a career-high 23 points against Western Carolina on February 8 and then set a new career-high, pouring in 25 points to help lead ASU to the season sweep of College of Charleston. The North Carolina native also dished out five plus assists in four different games and tied a season high in rebounds, hauling in eight boards against UNCG. She also drained at least one three-pointer in every game, nailing five threes in two different games.
Other Nominees: Tonia Gerty (College of Charleston), Shanara Hollinquest (Chattanooga), Jamie Navarro (Georgia Southern), Amanda Leigh (UNC Greensboro), Savannah Hill (Samford) and Kelly Dwyer (Wofford).
WRESTLING
Turtogtokh Luvsandorj, The Citadel, Fr., 157 pounds
Luvsandorj continued his hot streak into February as won 10 straight dual meets and is 13-1 overall since Jan. 9. In February, he went 7-1 with four pins. He defeated nationally-ranked Thomas Scotton (No. 16) of North Carolina to cap off the regular season for the Bulldogs. His only loss was a narrow defeat to No. 8 Bryce Saddoris of Navy, 4-1. The true freshman is second on the team in wins with 24.
Other Nominees: Austin Trotman (Appalachian State), Alex Radsky (Davidson), Bryan Sigmon (UNC Greensboro) and Josh Wine (VMI).
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Anna Milian, Elon, Sr.
Milian went 4-1 at the top singles position during the month of February, falling only to 25th-ranked Sanaz Marand of No. 11 North Carolina. All of her wins came in straight sets, including a 6-0, 6-0 shutout of Gabriela Celi from Lees-McRae. She also teamed with Elisa Simonetti at the number one doubles spot where the pair went undefeated (4-0). The duo topped No. 28 Jocelyn Ffriend and Haley Hemm of UNC, 8-6, and won two other matches by scores of 8-1.
Other Nominees: Blakely Bean (Appalachian State), Caroline Newman (College of Charleston), Stephanie Synn (Davidson), Jennifer Betts (Furman), Melanie Rolle (Georgia Southern), Rebecca Kirven (Samford) and Stephanie Cox (Wofford).
MEN’S TENNIS
Oliver Reynolds, Samford, Jr.
Reynolds, who was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week on March 2, finished the opening month of the 2010 campaign with a 5-1 singles record and a 3-1 mark in doubles play. He led the Bulldogs to a stellar 6-1 record in February and ended the month with a five-match winning streak in singles play and a three-match winning streak in doubles play. As a team, Samford finished February with a six-match winning streak. Reynolds split time between the No. 2 and No. 3 singles positions, but competed in every dual match at the No. 1 doubles position along with teammate Carl Abalos.
Other Nominees: Alain Humblet (Appalachian State), Lukas Koncilia (College of Charleston), Alberto Diaz (The Citadel), Calum Gee (Davidson), Carl Lundberg (Furman), Alain Garrido (Georgia Southern) and Michael Schecter (Wofford).
BASEBALL PLAYER
Andrew Barna, Davidson, Fr., 3B
Barna Hit .452 and slugged a team-best .774 with five doubles, a home run, a triple and 10 RBIs to lead Davidson to a 6-2 start. The freshman hit a team-best five doubles and had a team-high 24 total bases and was named SoCon Player of the Week for Feb. 22-28, helping Davidson a perfect 5-0 week after batting .579 (11-for-19) and slugging 1.053 with four doubles, a triple, a home run and nine RBIs.
Other Nominees: Wes Hobson (Appalachian State), Cole Rakar (College of Charleston), Matt Simonelli (The Citadel), Seth Canipe (Elon), Shawn Payne (Georgia Southern), Corey Overholtzer (UNC Greensboro), Bo Smith (Samford), Tyler Kirkpatrick (Western Carolina) and Mac Doyle (Wofford).
BASEBALL PITCHER
Matt Andress, Appalachian State, Sr., RHP
Andress won both of his starts in February while posting a 0.82 ERA and .132 opponents batting average. The senior allowed just one run on five hits in 11 innings of work, fanning 16 (13.1 K/9 inn) and walking two. Andress allowed just one hit over five innings to win season opener versus Presbyterian. In his next outing, Andress struck out 12 batters, the most by an ASU pitcher in 13 years, in just six innings of work against Niagara (Feb. 26).
Other Nominees: Christian Powell (College of Charleston), Drew Mahaffey (The Citadel), Mike Frongello (Davidson), Michael Hester (Georgia Southern), Lex Rutledge (Samford), Vance Chavis (Western Carolina) and John Cornely (Wofford).
SOFTBALL PLAYER
Tiffany Baker, Chattanooga, Jr., INF
For the month, Baker fashioned a .410 batting average over 14 games, accumulating 16 hits for the Lady Mocs, who went 11-3 overall. The junior belted five home runs, including two against Butler on Feb. 19, and drove in 12 runs. Baker added a pair of doubles and 10 runs scored while starting all 14 contests on the month.
Other Nominees: Kristie Shifflett (College of Charleston), Emerald Graham (Elon), Morgan Hughey (Furman), Nina Iduate(Georgia Southern) and Alex Emeterio (UNC Greensboro).
SOFTBALL PITCHER
Brooke Loudermilk, Chattanooga, Sr., P
Loudermilk pitched five complete games on the month while securing a 7-2 overall record. The senior also added a save while fashioning a 0.83 ERA. In 50.2 innings of work in the circle, she fanned 69 batters against just 12 walks, and she allowed just six earned runs in total. Loudermilk paced the conference in innings pitched (50.2), strikeouts (69), wins (7), games started (8) and appearances (10).
Other Nominees: Alexa Datko (College of Charleston), Erin O’Shea (Elon), Lana Mackey (Furman), Brianna Streetmon (Georgia Southern).
MEN’S GOLF
Harrison Moore, College of Charleston, Sr.
Moore finished the 36-hole Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invite at 6-under par (138) to claim medalist honors by three strokes over the nearest competitors. He followed a 70 in round one with a four-under par 68 in the second and final round to earn the win. In addition, Charleston won the 11-team tournament by eight strokes over second place UMKC.
Other Nominees: Jackson Taylor (Davidson), Colin Chapman (UNC Greensboro), Derek Rende (Chattanooga),Ryan Zabroske (Georgia Southern) and Mark Joye (Wofford).
WOMEN’S GOLF
Tara McFadden, Elon, Jr.
McFadden tied for fifth in the 172-player field at the Edwin Watts/Kiawah Island Classic at Kiawah Island, S.C. The junior from Thomasburg, Ontario, fired a three-round total of 219 (74-71-74) for three-over par at the par 72 Cougar Point course. She was the top SoCon finisher at the event hosted by league member College of Charleston.
Other Nominees: Leigh Whittaker (College of Charleston) and Katelyn Stanier (Samford).