Seven Student-Athletes Honored for Excellence in Competition
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference announced its January 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
Noah Dahlman, Wofford, Sr., F
Dahlman led the Terriers with 22.9 points per game in the month of January to go along with 6.2 rebounds per contest. The senior scored 20 or more points in seven of the nine games, including a 34-point performance against Western Carolina on Jan. 29. He shot 71.6 percent from the floor, which included a 10-of-10 mark at Georgia Southern (1/12) and a 15-of-17 mark against Western Carolina (1/29). Dahlman also led the team in rebounds twice on the month. Entering February, he had scored in double figures in 70 straight games.
Other Nominees: Omar Carter (Appalachian State), Cameron Wells (The Citadel), Drew Spradlin (Elon), Omar Wattad (Chattanooga) and Trey Sumler (Western Carolina).
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Whitney Hood, Chattanooga, F, Jr.
Hood, a junior from Meridian, Miss., averaged 20.8 points per game during the month of January. Hood scored 20 or more points four times, including a career-high 40-point output against Wofford. She posted double-doubles against the Terriers and UNCG with a career-high 13 rebounds against the Spartans. The Lady Mocs forward also dished out a career-high four assists in a win over Western Carolina and had a career-best three blocks against Samford.
Hood is currently the leading scorer in the Southern Conference for the season.
Other Nominees: Ashlen Dewart (Appalachian State), Janae Smith (College of Charleston), Sophia Aleksandravicius (Davidson), Kelsey Evans (Elon), Meredyth Frye (Georgia Southern), Monique Floyd (UNCG), Emily London (Samford) and Daniella Motley (Wofford).
WRESTLING
Turtogtokh Luvsandorj, The Citadel, So., 165 pounds
Luvsandorj surpassed the 30-win mark in January by going 8-2 in the month with three pins. The sophomore has ascended to No. 6 in the national polls, becoming the highest ranked wrestler in the SoCon this season and the highest ranked wrestler in Citadel history. He wrapped up action against SoCon competition by going 5-0 in the league and pinned three consecutive opponents against Campbell, UNCG and VMI late in the month. He had a win over a ranked opponent in No. 25 Kyle Blevins of Appalachian State. Both of Luvsandorj's losses on the month were at the prestigious Lone Star Duals where dropped a tough 1-0 decision to No. 4 Tyler Caldwell of Oklahoma and a 5-3 decision to Utah Valley's Jeb Clark.
Other Nominees: Austin Trotman (Appalachian State), Charlie Wolff (Davidson), Peter Sturgeon (UNCG) and Jason McCroskey (Chattanooga).
MEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
TRACK
Brunson Miller, The Citadel, So.
Miller, a sophomore from Murrells Inlet, S.C., won the 400 meters at the Wesley A. Brown Invitational in Annapolis, Md., with a time of 48.10. He holds the school record in the 400m for a regulation indoor track, and his time broke the school record for an oversized/banked track. Miller currently leads the conference in the event by less than one second.
FIELD
Kyle Kirby, Samford, Jr.
Kirby, a Samford senior from Longwood, Fla., broke the school record in the weight with a throw of 60'6.75 inches at the Blue Raider Invitational in Murfreesboro, Tenn. on Jan. 22. Kirby currently ranks second in the conference in the event.
WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
TRACK
Jane't Carothers, Western Carolina, Sr.
Carothers, a senior from Charlotte, N.C., set an indoor personal-best in the 400 meters at the Kentucky Invitational on Jan. 15. Her time of 55.29 in the event is the fastest in the conference this season. Carothers just missed breaking her personal-record two weeks later at the JFR Combined Events Invitational at Clemson when she ran the 400 meters in a time of 55.31, finishing first at the meet. At Clemson, Carothers also ran a 55.0 split on the 4 x 400 meters relay that recorded a SoCon leading 3:48.88. The Catamount sprinter ranked first in the 400 meters, second in the 200 meters, fifth in the 60 meters and is part of a relay team that ranked first in the conference in the month of January.
Other Nominees: Asia Dunlap (Appalachian State), Dena O'Brien (College of Charleston), Heather Conarroe (Davidson) and Lauren D'Alessio (Samford)
FIELD
Cassie Crawford, Appalachian State, Fr.
Crawford, a freshman at Appalachian State, won the Mountaineer Open in the pole vault with a vault of 12-6 ¾. The Apex, N.C., native set the Holmes Center record with the vault and moved into second place all-time on the Appalachian State record list in the event. A week later at the University of Kentucky Rod McCray Invitational, Crawford placed second out in the pole vault with a mark of 12-6 ¼.
Other Nominees: Lynndsey Hyter (Georgia Southern), Chenelle Terry (Samford) and Kaitlin Brown (Wofford)
Southern Conference December Athletes of the Month
Men's Basketball Noah Dahlman, Wofford
Women's Basketball Whitney Hood, Chattanooga
Wrestling Turtogtokh Luvsandorj, The Citadel
Men's Indoor Track Brunson Miller, The Citadel
Men's Indoor Field Kyle Kirby, Samford
Women's Indoor Track Jane't Carothers, Western Carolina
Women's Indoor Field Cassie Crawford, Appalachian State