April 2014 Volume 5, Issue 4 INSIDE THE EYE OF THE STORM Georgia Southwestern State University is in the coming to the end of the 2013-14 season. The Eye of the Storm is your monthly source for all of the ongoings of the athletic department at GSW. Readers can briefly catch up on action that has already taken place, look ahead at the month’s upcoming athletic events and get the inside scoop on everything the Hurricanes do.
FINISH AT THE BIG DANCE The men’s basketball has completed the 2013-14 regular season at 19-9, 11-8 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Hurricanes matched the 2010-11 record of 20-9, after the PBC Tournament and the NCAA tournament. GSW reached the second round of the PBC Tournament before, the PBC Champs, USC Aiken knocked them out. The Hurricanes reached the NCAA tournament as a 6th seed in the Southeast Division where they played against fellow PBC foe Montevallo in Aiken, S.C. The team as a whole received many accolades during the season. The team was nationally ranked in blocks and received votes on the National Coaches Poll for five weeks. Alan Arnett, Johathan Brooks, and Daryl Davis were consistently at the top of the PBC rankings during the course of the season. All three were named to the PBC All-Team.
Brooks and Davis were named PBC Player of the Week, during the season. Jamon Hawkins was named All-Tournament. After competing in two
games, Hawkins averaged 19.0 points, 14-of-22 FG (63.6%), and 7-of-13 three-point FG (53.8%). For More GSW Hoops action you can follow men’s basketball on twitter @GSWHoops_ Canes.
PROGRESSIVE SEASON The women’s basketball team completed their 2013-14 season on March 1st against North Georgia in a loss of 85-68. The Lady ‘Canes have a record of 9-17 overall and 4-15 in the PBC. As a team the women are ranked 6th in the nation for most steals as a team. The women’s team has already begun the grand search and try-out sessions for next year’s team.
BACK TO THE DIAMOND Baseball currently has a 10-20 overall and 5-13 Peach Belt Conference record. This has the Hurricanes placed 12th among the 13 baseball teams in the Peach Belt. The Hurricanes have some PBC stand outs. Evan Alderman is ranked fifth with a batting average of .400. Matt Suggs is ranked seventh in Strikeouts with 54 strikeouts. Zach Wittmus isn’t far behind in the strikeout category as he is tenth with 44 strikeouts, to date. Stephen Eldridge is also leading GSW with the second highest batting average of .330. Jarrod Taylor is currently leading the Hurricanes with ten doubles. If Taylor gets six more, he will beat the current record held by Trent Dooley back in 2010 with 15 doubles. This past weekend the Hurricanes went 2-1 in their series against #2 ranked Lander. Matt Suggs and Coty Graham were the pitchers who took credit for the wins. The first game of April gave GSW another win from freshman pitcher Zach Smith. The Hurricanes have labeled April 19th will be Senior Day to recognize the seven seniors on all their accomplishments.
April 2014 SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES The Hurricanes Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages are great ways to keep up with your favorite teams. Like us at www.facebook.com/GSWHurricanes Follow us on Twitter @GSWAthletics and on Instagram @GSWHurricanes
Volume 5, Issue 4 Senior Day to recognize the seniors for all the accomplishments they have made.
MAKE-A-WISH
The GSW Student-athletes, led by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), have been busy this year raising money for the Make-aWish Foundation. One of their recent events was For more information on GSW teams please visit Make-A-Wish Day on Sunday, March 30th at the www.gswcanes.com. baseball and softball fields. The student-athletes sold GSW Athletics t-shirts, Hurricane Make-aNEW RECORD SETTERS Wish bracelets, baked goods, and raffles for some GSW memorabilia, which will be drawn on April Softball is still holding strong as they hold 15th. In total, this event raised $339 for the Makea record of 23-17 overall and 7-7 in the Peach Belt a-Wish fund. To date the GSW Student-Athletes Conference. The Lady ‘Canes are currently sixth have raised over $1,000 for this great cause with in the PBC team standings out of 12 teams. more to still come. In addition to the student Mason Moreland has been crushing the athletes raising this money, a new element was GSW all-time record for stolen bases this season. added to the fundraising efforts this year with the Moreland is currently at 85 steals, the record was Make-a-Wish partnership and NCAA by matchat 65 held by herself from past seasons. This 23 ing every dollar that each institution raises beyond stolen bases has Moreland ranked third among the last year’s total up to thousand dollars. We are PBC for most steals this season. Moreland is also currently over last year’s total, but hoping to raise leading GSW with nine career triples. much more so we can take advantage of this new Nellie Moore is just one homerun away element and help more children have their wish from breaking the GSW NCAA-era record for come true! Please continue to support our studenthomeruns in a season. As she matched the record athletes in their fundraising efforts for such a great on Wednesday night against Valdosta with her first cause. at bat. Moore currently has 12 homeruns. This has Moore tied for second in the PBC. The Lady ‘Canes have more stand outs KEEPING UP WITH THE SEWELL’S among the conference. Allison Pastor is ranked sixth in the PBC for most wins. If Pastor achieves Women’s Tennis has an overall record of one more win she’ll match her last season’s win 5-9, and have one win in the Peach Belt. Anna count of 12. Pastor is also ranked tenth with 76 Kate Shaw is leading with the most wins, with a strikeouts and second with two saves. Ashley record of 6-7. Victoria Ondo is right there with Cavender is ranked ninth in the PBC with her ten Shaw as her record is 6-6. Carly Cangelosi and wins for most wins. Cavender is currently match- Victoria Ondo are holding things together on the ing her total wins from last season. Hayley Knight doubles side, with an overall record of 6-7. The Hurricane’s men and women’s tennis is ranked tenth in the PBC with 10 stolen bases. The Lady ‘Canes have 14 more games left will have five more matches this season. Four of these games are at the Home Courts! this season. April 15th has been designated to be
April 2014
Volume 5, Issue 4
KEEPING UP WITH THE SEWELL’S Cont.
Men’s Tennis has an overall record of 3-8. Abel Acuna is on a 3-7 overall singles record. Senior Stephen Moore also has an impressive record of 4-5. Valentine Demande and Jake Koonce are stable teammates in the Doubles arena, with an overall record of 3-6. This duo has won against one nationally and regionally ranked team. Oliver Marshall and Moore are also good together as they have an overall record of 3-6.
KICKEROOS The women’s soccer team is in the middle of hosting their annual Kickeroos camp. This camp is for children the ages of 3-6 that want to get out on the feild to play some soccer.
MEN’S SOCER CLINIC
GOLF TAKES A SWING Men’s Golf have just finished the last regualr season tournament of the 2014 spring season. The Buccaneer Invitational, hosted by Barry University this past weekend, where they finished in 13th place. Ander Olsson finished in the top 15 among all the golfers. The Hurricanes have shown improvement on the progress over the course of this spring season. However, the golf team has been steadily placing in the back of the pack in every tournament. Nicholas Ward has been consistently been leading the Hurricanes in each tournament played. Ward has been competitive with the top golfers each time. The PBC Championships begin on April 18th in Pine Mountain, Ga. Keep up with the Golf team on Twitter at @GSW_GOLF.
A high school prospect camp is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, from 10am - 4pm. Cost: $50 in advance/$60 day of. Lunch included. Go the the GSW website for more information.
BASKETBALL CAMP The annual summer basketball camp is scheduled for two sessions May 26-29 and June 2-5, from 9am - 4pm. More information to come on the GSW website later this month.
GO HURRICANES!!!! GSW ALL THE WAY!!!! See you in May!