Athletics

Athletics

Lion Athletes Recognized by the SAC

by Adam Williams, Director of Athletic Communications

The fall semester saw numerous individual accolades awarded to Mars Hill student-athletes. Mars Hill football saw six athletes be named to the South Atlantic Conference Offensive and Defensive First Teams, respectively. On the offensive side were Leondre Andreas, C.J. Thompson, and Ty Snelson and on the defensive end, Tristan Rankin, Dexter Fitzpatrick, and Landon Honeycutt were first team selections. Justin Bullock was named to the All-SAC Offensive Second Team. Snelson, Rankin, and Honeycutt each went on to be named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Super Region 2 All-Region First Teams in their respective positions. Fitzpatrick was a second team selection. Rankin and Snelson capped off their phenomenal seasons by being declared All-Americans by Associated Press and the D2CCA. Men’s soccer saw Sebastian Bertilsson and Jeppe Christensen named All-SAC First Team selections for the first time in their careers while the freshman duo of Peter Plougmand and Kevonte WilloughbyWilliams were named to the All-SAC Second Team. Willoughby-Williams was named the SAC Freshman of the Year. Bertilsson went on to add the honors of being named to both the D2CCA and United Soccer Coaches AllSoutheast Region Second Team. Christensen was named a College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District selection and later named an Academic All-American honoree with his third team selection. Sanne Martinsen of the Lions’ women’s soccer team was named an All-SAC Second Team selection for the third time in her career. Mars Hill volleyball saw four players named to All-SAC teams, led by Sarah Goddard’s second team selection. Jana Cuk and Ully Martins were named as third team selections and Nikkayla Stewart was chosen for the All-Freshmen team. Martins closed out a truly sensational career by being named to the D2CCA All-Southeast Region Second Team and was an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Honorable Mention. She also won her second straight SAC Volleyball Scholar Athlete of the Year award.

FOOTBALL

MEN’S SOCCER

Leondre Andreas C.J. Thompson Ty Snelson Tristan Rankin Dexter Fitzpatrick Landon Honeycutt Justin Bullock

Sebastian Bertilsson Jeppe Christensen

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Sanne Martinsen VOLLEYBALL

Jana Cuk Sarah Goddard

Historic Seasons for MHU Teams

Mars Hill athletics saw its most successful fall season in several years during 2021 with two teams playing for South Atlantic Conference Championships and one making its first NCAA Tournament appearance. The Lions football program posted an 8-3 record, tying their winningest season in school history set a decade prior. They played Wingate for the SAC Championship, but ultimately fell by a score of 26-19. Despite the heartbreaking end to a phenomenal run, several individuals were recognized for their accomplishments, highlighted by freshman defensive back Tristan Rankin and senior tight end Ty Snelson’s All-American selections from Associated Press and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.

The Mars Hill men’s soccer program competed for their first SAC Championship since 2012 when they took on Coker in the finals. The run was truly memorable with back-to-back overtime game-winning goals scored by freshman Peter Plougmand. Plougmand, along with fellow freshman Kevonte Willoughby-Williams and senior attacker Sebastian Bertilsson were the most dominant offensive trio in the league, combining for 33 goals. In head coach Mike Smith’s first full season with the volleyball team, the Lions took their game to another level. The team won 21 matches during the 2021 season, the most since the team won 32 in 1998. Despite an early departure in the SAC Tournament—their fifth straight appearance being the longest active streak of any team on campus—their incredible campaign continued with the program’s first selection into the NCAA Tournament.

Above: Seniors Ty Snelson (right) and Sebastian Bertilsson (left) led their 22 Mars Hill, the Magazine | Spring 2022respective teams to historic seasons for the Lions. Photos by Mike Thornhill.