Southern Conference names February athletes of the month

Fifteen student-athletes across 11 sports honored

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its February athletes of the month Friday, highlighting the athletic excellence of 15 student-athletes across 11 sports during the month.

BASEBALL
PLAYER
Marshall Toole, Wofford, Jr., Decatur, Ga.

Posted a .469 batting average (15-for-32), .564 on-base percentage and a .656 slugging percentage, recording four extra-base hits with a pair of doubles and two triples and seven walks
Scored 14 runs and recorded eight RBIs
Tied for tops in the nation by going a perfect 11-of-11 in stolen bases.
Recorded at least one hit in all eight games with multiple hits in five, including a three-hit, four RBI-day against Fairleigh Dickinson
Tied career-high with four stolen bases against FDU and equaling second place in Wofford's single-game record book.
Scored at least one run in every game and stolen a base in six of the eight contests.

Others nominated: Javier Crespo (The Citadel), Cameron Sisneros (ETSU, Parker Lester (Mercer), Caleb Cozart (UNCG), John Anderson (Samford), Cole Jenkins (VMI), Trent Turner (Western Carolina)

PITCHER
Carter Fink, ETSU, Jr., RHP, Macon, Ga.

Tossed 8.1 scoreless innings
Owns a 2-0 record, with wins over Lafayette and Rider
Held opposing hitters to a .138 batting average
Allowed just four hits – none for extra bases
Struck out nine batters, while walking just one

Others nominated: Thomas Rollauer (The Citadel), Jess Ackerman (Mercer), Sammy Tortorella (UNCG), Jonathan Todd (Western Carolina) Camden Wicker (Wofford)

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Vonterius Woolbright, Western Carolina, Sr., G, Albany, Ga.

Averaged 20.1 points, 10.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game in February, posting five double-doubles and two triple-doubles
Eclipsed the 20-point mark five times, with a string of three straight 20-plus point games at Samford (Feb. 14), versus ETSU (Feb. 17), and at UNCG (Feb. 21)
Had 16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and a steal against Mercer on Feb. 10 and recorded 15 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists versus Furman on Feb. 28
Swept the monthly awards this season
Named SoCon Player of the Week on Feb. 12, tying SoCon Hall of Famer Steph Curry for the most weekly awards in conference history with eight.

Others nominated: Quentin Millora-Brown (The Citadel), Ebby Asamoah (ETSU), JP Pegues (Furman), Jalyn McCreary (Mercer), Keyshaun Langley (UNCG), Jaden Campbell (Samford) and Honor Huff (Chattanooga)

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Jada Guinn, Chattanooga, Gr., G, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Helped lead Chattanooga to a 7-1 record this month by averaging 18.13 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game
Shot 51 percent from the field, 82 percent from the free throw line and went two-for-two from behind the arc
Accumulated three double-doubles and three 20+ point games including 29 points in a victory against Western Carolina on Feb. 22
Set a career high in rebounding this month, securing 16 rebounds twice, the first on Feb. 1 against Wofford and the second on Feb. 17 against ETSU
Mocs clinched the regular season title for the second consecutive season.
Named SoCon Player of the Week on Feb. 13

Others nominated: Nevaeh Brown (ETSU), Summah Evans (Mercer), Emily Bowman (Samford), Ayanna Khalfani (UNCG), Lonasia Brewer (Western Carolina), and Rachael Rose (Wofford)

MEN’S GOLF
Matthew Larkin, Wofford, 5th, Atlanta, Ga.

Tallied a 9-under 207 to place in a tie for fifth at the Palmas del Mar Collegiate
9-under is tied for the eighth-best tournament score in relation to par in program history
Claimed his fourth-career top-five finish at the Palmas del Mar Collegiate
Had 13 birdies in the event and recorded a pair of eagles, one of only 10 players with multiple
The Terriers tied for sixth in the event with an 8-under 856 score

Others nominated: Will Morlan (Furman), Randall Hudson (UNCG), Braedon Wear (Chattanooga) and Taylor Kuehn (Samford)

WOMEN’S GOLF
Anna Morgan, Furman, Sr., Spartanburg, S.C.

Two-time SoCon Golfer of the Week in February
Won the Lady Puerto Rico Classic in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico behind rounds of 68-71-67 for a tournament score of 206 (-10) and led the field in birdies (13) and par-3 scoring (2.67)
The victory marked the seventh of her career, extending her program record for individual career wins
Finished third at the 2024 Chevron Classic with an 11-under par 205, just one shot behind co-champions Isabel Sy (-12) of Illinois and Nicha Kanpai (-12) of Maryland

Others nominated: Violeta Fernandez-Tagle (Chattanooga) and Gabi Nicastro (Samford)

MEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Carson Williams, Furman, Sr., Raleigh, N.C.

Repeats as SoCon Indoor Track Athlete of the Month
Started the month with an 8:02 3,000m time at the Boston Valentine Invitational of Feb. 10
Turned in a third place performance in the 800m at the USC Indoor Open with a time of 1:57.56
At the SoCon Indoor Championship, he won the 3,000m with a time of 8:12 , and second in the 800m with a time of 1:51.55
Qualified for the NCAA Tournament in the mile and finished as a second-team All-American.

Field
No Nominees

WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Megan Marvin, Furman, Jr., Chapel Hill, N.C.

Repeats as SoCon Indoor Track Athlete of the Month
Won two titles at the SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 26-27, successfully defending her 2023 crown in the 800-meter run in 2:08.85 and running the third leg on the winning distance medley relay team, which turned in a time of 11:31.07.
The next day she defended her 800m title, turning in a time of 2:08.85
Marvin is the leagues first four-time winner in the 800m
With teammates Camryn Wennersten, Callie Harper, and Sierra Bower, Marvin won the distance medley relay for the fourth consecutive year. This is the eight straight year the Paladins have taken gold in the event.

Field
Diana Romero-Barba, ETSU, Jr., Tepatitlan de Morelos, Jalisco, Mexico

Placed in the top two in all three meets competed in for the month of February
Took second at the Southern Conference championship after clearing 3.67 meters.
Set a personal record and tied the school record at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational on Feb. 9
Placed second at the VMI Winter Relays on Feb. 2 after a vault of 3.67 meters.

RIFLE
SMALLBORE
Emma Pohlmann, Ga. Southern, So., Nentershausen, Germany

Helped lead the sixth-ranked Eagles to wins over No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 17 North Georgia and 20^th-ranked UAB.
Averaged a SoCon-best 587.000 in the month of February.
Recorded the third-highest score of the season (590) in wins over UAB and Ole Miss on Feb. 3
Finished second among 19 competitors with a 590 in smallbore in the win over Ole Miss
Finished second among 14 competitors with a 584 in smallbore in the win over North Georgia

Others nominated: Christopher Comstock (UAB)

AIR RIFLE
Emma Pohlmann, Ga. Southern, So., Nentershausen, Germany

Helped lead the sixth-ranked Eagles to wins over No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 17 North Georgia and 20^th-ranked UAB
Averaged a team-best 594.667 average in the month of February. Enters the SoCon Championships with a conference-leading 595.154 average.
Led all competitors with a 597 against Navy and The Citadel
Led all competitors with a 595 in the air rifle in the win over North Georgia

Others nominated: Emily Buck (UAB)

SOFTBALL
PLAYER
Brooklynn Maxwell, UNCG, Sr., 3B, Virginia Beach, Va.

Batted .433 (26-for-60) with six home runs, five doubles, two triples, 14 RBIs and 20 runs scored during February
Had a .941 fielding percentage in the month
Recorded 2 or more hits in nine games, including three games with three hits
Currently leads the conference in six offensive categories and ranks in the top five in the nation in hits and home runs
Was 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, four RBIs and two runs scored in a win against Drexel on Feb. 16

Others nominated: Cameron Young (ETSU), Kiley Perry (Furman), Tori Hedgecock (Mercer), Logan Champion (Samford), Olivia Lipari (Chattanooga) and Tessa Juett (Western Carolina)

PITCHER
Margaret Axelson, Wofford, So., Chamblee, Ga.

Had a 0.00 ERA with eight strikeouts in 15 innings of work
Pitched a complete game with four strikeouts in a 3-0 win against Robert Morris on Feb. 9, giving Wofford its first win in program history
Started and pitched three innings, allowing zero earned runs and striking out one batter against Northern Kentucky on Feb. 16
Named SoCon Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 12, becoming the first Terrier to win the award

Others nominated: Sierra Tufts (Furman), Grace Taylor (Mercer), Maddie Spell (UNCG), Jordyn Partain (Samford), Taylor Long (Chattanooga) and Tessa Juett (Western Carolina)

MEN’S TENNIS
Jakub Jupa, Chattanooga, Fr., Mostkovice, Czech Republic

Posted a combined 8-4 record between singles and doubles play.
Went 4-1 in singles, including a 3-1 tally at No. 2 and 1-0 at No. 1 in February.
Helped lead Chattanooga to a 5-4 record during the month.
For the season, Jupa owns 10 victories in dual action between the two sets of formats.

Others nominated: Francisco Lamas (ETSU), Elijah Poritzky (Furman), Nemanja Stefanovic (Mercer), Darcy Nicholls (Samford), Max Graham (Wofford)

WOMEN’S TENNIS
Daniela Rivera, ETSU, Jr., Maturin, Venezuela

Helped ETSU to a 5-1 overall record and a 2-0 SoCon mark in the month
Went 5-1 at No. 3 singles in February, with four of the five wins coming in straight sets
Went 5-0 at No. 1 doubles partnering with Fernanda Carvajal
Opened SoCon play with a 6-1, 6-0 singles win over Western Carolina, and a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Wofford.
Won Player of the week on Feb. 20

Others nominated: Teodora Ristic, (Mercer), Darcy Nicholls (Samford), Rozalie Dohnalova (Chattanooga), Isabella Sambola (Western Carolina), Breda Brennan (Wofford)

WRESTLING
Taye Ghadiali, Campbell, R-Sr., HWT, Warren, Mich.

Perfect in the month of February, going 7-0 with all seven being bonus-point victories
Finished the season 8-0 in SoCon matches
Ranked No. 9 in the coaches rankings and 15^th in RPI
The only Division I wrestler to be in the top-10 in falls (5th), tech falls (5th), and most dominant wrestler (10th).

Others nominated: Will Miller (Appalachian State), Isaiah Powe (Chattanooga), Jeff Boyd (The Citadel), Tanner Peake (Davidson)

Southern Conference February Athletes of the Month
Baseball – player	Marshall Toole, Wofford
Baseball – pitcher	Carter Fink, ETSU
Men’s basketball	Vonterius Woolbright, Western Carolina
Women’s basketball	Jada Guinn, Chattanooga
Men’s golf	Matthew Larkin, Wofford
Women’s golf	Anna Morgan, Furman
Men’s indoor track and field – track	Carson Williams, Furman
Women’s indoor track and field – track	Megan Marvin, Furman
Women’s indoor track and field – field	Diana Romero-Barba, ETSU
Rifle – smallbore	Emma Pohlmann, Georgia Southern
Rifle – air rifle	Emma Pohlmann, Georgia Southern
Softball – player	Brooklynn Maxwell, UNCG
Softball – pitcher	Margaret Axelson, Wofford
Men’s tennis	Jakub Jupa, Chattanooga
Women’s tennis	Daniela Rivera, ETSU
Wrestling	Taye Ghadiali, Campbell