SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference announced its April 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.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Kinsey Casey, College of Charleston, Jr.
Casey led the Cougars by winning all five of her singles matches during the month of April while earning Most Outstanding Player at the SoCon Women's Tennis Championship. The junior did not drop a set in singles competition, picking up regular season wins at the No. 4 spot against competitors from Furman, Charleston Southern and Georgia Southern. She was also undefeated in the conference tournament, downing Davidson's Alison Rauh 6-0, 6-3 in the semifinals and helping the Cougars win the championship with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Furman's Michelle Stanford in the finals.
Other Nominees: Samantha Galainena (Davidson), Monica Arguello (Furman), Jessica Fuller (Georgia Southern), Lindsey Mallory (Samford) and Stephanie Cox (Wofford).
MEN'S TENNIS
Justin Flynn, Georgia Southern, Sr.
Flynn closed out his collegiate career undefeated in the month of April. Flynn went 4-0 in both singles and doubles action and was responsible for clinching three of the four GSU matches in the month with wins against South Carolina State (4-3), Chattanooga (5-2) and Samford (4-3). In addition, paired with Jayraj Jadeja, the doubles tandem clinched the Chattanooga point and was the lone doubles win against UNC Greensboro.
Other Nominees: Mickael Trintignac (College of Charleston), Derek Dickey (The Citadel), Carl Lundberg (Furman), Orcun Seyrek (UNC Greensboro), Zac Dunkle (Samford) and Tom Wood (Wofford).
BASEBALL Co-PLAYERS
Wes Hobson, Appalachian State, Sr., 2B and Kyle Behrendt, Wofford, Sr., 3B
Hobson hit safely in 17-of-18 games in April, including 13-straight to close the month, and he had multiple hits in 12-of-18 games, including a string of eight-consecutive multi-hit games from April 13-25. The senior batted .449 with seven home runs, 25 RBIs and 28 runs scored while leading ASU to a 16-2 overall mark. Hobson went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored in a 5-4, 10-inning win over Furman on April 3. Not only did Hobson become Appalachian's all-time hits leader with a 4-for-5 effort, but his clutch hits in the seventh and 10th innings were integral to the Mountaineers' come-from-behind victory.
Behrendt batted .485 for the month of April, collecting at least one hit in each game and extending his hitting streak to 21 games. The senior third baseman notched 14 extra base hits and drove in 15 runs while recording a .818 slugging percentage and a .539 on-base percentage. Behrendt was a perfect 9-for-9 on stolen base attempts and he became the first player in Wofford history and the only one in the Southern Conference this season to hit for the cycle as part of a 5-for-5 effort against UNC Greensboro on April 24.
Other Nominees: Greg Blake (College of Charleston), Bryan Altman (The Citadel), Andrew Barna (Davidson), Neal Pritchard (Elon), Victor Roache (Georgia Southern), Lloyd Enzor (UNC Greensboro), David Schulze (Samford) and Tyler Kirkpatrick (Western Carolina).
BASEBALL PITCHER
Chris Patterson, Appalachian State, Sr., RHP
Patterson won or saved nine of ASU's 16 victories on the month while allowing one hit or less in 7-of-10 appearances and two or less in 9-of-10. In 16.2 innings, Patterson fashioned a 0.54 ERA with a 2-0 record and seven saves while surrendering just one earned run. The senior saved all three games of a SoCon sweep over Davidson (April 9-11), highlighted by striking out seven in two innings to earn a save in the game two victory. Patterson currently boasts a Division I-high 13 saves on the season, which is four shy of equaling the Southern Conference single season record of 17.
Other Nominees: David Peterson (College of Charleston), Asher Wojciechowski (The Citadel), Thomas Middour (Davidson), Jimmy Reyes (Elon), Jake Brown (Georgia Southern), Colby Hyatt (UNC Greensboro), Jonathan Stephens (Samford), Matt Benedict (Western Carolina) and John Cornely (Wofford).
SOFTBALL PLAYER
Kristie Shifflett, College of Charleston, Sr., 3B
Shifflett provided the power as the College of Charleston went 10-6 in April. A starter in 14 games for the Cougars, she notched a .450 batting average, .800 slugging percentage and .558 on-base percentage while producing 18 hits, nine of which went for extra bases, 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored. She also drew 10 walks and struck out only three times in 40 at bats. The senior recorded a hit in 10 of 14 games including seven multi-hit efforts.
Other Nominees: Tia Blosser (Chattanooga), Alex Emeterio (UNC Greensboro), Stephanie Field (Furman), Anna Kimbrell (Samford), Megan Rembielak (Appalachian State), Amber Steinhardt (Western Carolina) and Tomeka Watson (Elon).
SOFTBALL PITCHER
Kandice Irwin, Chattanooga, Jr., RHP
Irwin had a strong month in the circle for the Lady Mocs, recording four victories and two saves in April. She compiled a 0.80 ERA as a relief pitcher for Chattanooga while striking out 38 in 35.0 innings pitched as Chattanooga wrapped up the SoCon regular season championship. The junior recorded the victory against Georgia Southern in her longest outing to that point in the season throwing 6.1 innings of relief and fanning six during an 11-inning contest. Irwin also notched a 10-inning victory throwing 7.0 innings of relief to shut the door on Appalachian State and not surrendering a run on April 25.
Other Nominees: Kayla Burris (Samford), Hannah Dow (Appalachian State), Amber Harrell (UNC Greensboro), Lana Mackey (Furman), Terri Mesko (College of Charleston) and Lauren Taylor (Elon).
MEN'S GOLF
Austin Reeves, Furman, Jr.
Junior Austin Reeves fired rounds of 71-66-70 to finish at nine-under par to claim Southern Conference Individual Medalist honors and help Furman to its first SoCon title since 2004, April 18-20 at the Country Club of South Carolina in Florence, S.C. Reeves, who posted a 69.0 stroke average, equaled a career-best single round with a second round 66. Reeves finished five strokes ahead of the nearest competitor and finished as the only golfer in the 55-player field to beat par in all three rounds.
Other Nominees: Jayson Judy (Elon), Ryan Zabroske (Georgia Southern), Will Bowman (UNC Greensboro), Ricky Stout (Western Carolina) and Mark Joye (Wofford).
WOMEN'S GOLF
Emma de Groot, Chattanooga, Jr.
De Groot earned her second straight golfer of the month honor on the strength on performances at the Sun Trust Gator Women's Golf Invitational and the SoCon Women's Golf Championship. In Gainesville, Fla., de Groot earned her fifth career victory in an event that featured eight of the top 50 ranked teams. She tied her own school record with a 68 (-2) in the final round to force a playoff with No. 17 Laura Kueny of Michigan State, which she won on the third hole. At the SoCon Championship, the junior finished as the runner-up while leading Chattanooga to its first-ever team title in the event.
Other Nominees: Yue Xu (Appalachian State), Courtney Taylor (UNC Greensboro), Malin Jansson (Western Carolina) and Sarah Hurt (Wofford).
MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
TRACK
John Svoboda, Appalachian State, Sr.
Svoboda won both the 100 and 200 meter races at the ASU Open (April 16). The 100m was a windy 10.56 and a legal 21.43 in the 200m. He ranks first in the SoCon in the 100m and second in the 200m. He is also a member of the conference leading 4x100m team. Svoboda also won the 400m at the Beach vs. Mountains meet (April 3) hosted by UNC Wilmington with a conference leading time of 47.48. His time ranks fourth all-time for ASU and is 37th fastest in the nation. The senior also ran a leg on the winning 4x100m relay team that ran a conference leading time of 40.76.
Other Nominees: Cameron Bean (Samford), Lee Gilmer (Furman), Emmanuel Kirwa (Chattanooga), Brunson Miller (The Citadel), Alex Taylor (Appalachian State) and Drew Tucker (Western Carolina).
FIELD
Cordell Livingston, Western Carolina, Fr.
Livingston won the triple jump (47' 2 1/2") and was third in the long jump (22' 1 3/4) at the Mountains vs. the Beaches meet (April 3), hosted by UNC Wilmington. He is ranked second in both events on the SoCon performance lists. Livingston also won the 110m hurdles (14.49) and the 400m hurdles (53.24). Both of these times lead the SoCon.
Other Nominees: Matt Boruff (Appalachian State), Jerod Gardner (Appalachian State), Kyle Kirby (Samford), Joey O'Rourke (The Citadel), Michael Seaman (Samford), Quintin Turner (The Citadel) and Andy Vess (Wofford).
WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
TRACK
Anneli Uys, Chattanooga, Sr.
Uys finished fourth at the Sea Ray Relays (April 9-10) in the 1500m with a personal best time of 4:26.73. She is the defending SoCon champion at 800 and 1500 meters and currently ranks first in the SoCon 1500. She also ran a leg of the second place 4 x 1500 relay with a split of 4:32.
Other Nominees: Felisha Garren (Western Carolina) and Shenita Martin (Appalachian State).
FIELD
Danielle Thorpe, Appalachian State, Sr.
Thorpe won the triple jump at the Mountains vs. Beaches meet (April 3) hosted by UNC Wilmington with a leap of 41-1.75 and currently leads the conference by more than a foot. She is also currently ranked 11th in the East Region and 25th in the nation. She also recorded 78-9.75 in the long jump and ran a leg of the third place 4x100 relay team. Thorpe then won the long and triple jump at the Winthrop's Carolina's Cup (April 9). She posted a season best long jump with at leap of 19-1.5, ranking first in the SoCon. She also had a personal best triple jump of 42-4, moving her into 14th position in the nation and sixth in the East Region, she leads the SoCon by almost three feet.
Other Nominees: Gayshawna Watkins (Appalachian State).
Southern Conference April Athletes of the Month
Women's Tennis Kinsey Casey, College of Charleston
Men's Tennis Justin Flynn, Georgia Southern
Co-Baseball (Player) Wes Hobson, Appalachian State and Kyle Behrendt, Wofford
Baseball (Pitcher) Chris Patterson, Appalachian State
Softball (Player) Kristie Shifflett, College of Charleston
Softball (Pitcher) Kandice Irwin, Chattanooga
Men's Golf Austin Reeves, Furman
Women's Golf Emma de Groot, Chattanooga
Men's Outdoor Track John Svoboda, Appalachian State
Men's Outdoor Field Cordell Livingston, Western Carolina
Women's Outdoor Track Anneli Uys, Chattanooga
Women's Outdoor Field Danielle Thorpe, Appalachian State