FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Contact: Robert Preston, Jr.,
912.260.4276
robert.preston@sgc.edu
SGC Foundation honors student-athletes
The SGC Foundation honored the college’s athletic program on Friday, Nov. 21
with its annual fall golf tournament, followed by an athletic banquet that
evening.
Seven teams braved the cold, windy weather in hopes of taking the first
place prize in the four-man scramble, held at the Douglas Golf and Country
Club. Despite the angry weather, several teams turned in some good scores.
Team Kight (Jeff Kight, Matt Greer, David Vickers and Gabe Evans) won first
place gross with a score of 62, followed by Hennesy Insurance (Jeff Hennesy,
Clint Lott, Lyn Lott and Keith Woodward), who won first place net with a 60.
Both teams used sharp iron play and a sure touch on the greens to
consistently score well.
SGC alum and professional baseball player Jason Childers won the Fender-Goggans
Longest Drive Contest, and Taylor Gentry took the top spot in the closest to
the pin contest.
Over 30 sponsors contributed generously to the golf tournament, and the
event would not have been possible without each one.
Friday evening, the Foundation hosted the four athletic teams (men’s and
women’s soccer, softball and baseball) at an athletic celebration to honor
the 2007-2008 teams. SGC athletics has enjoyed an exciting last 12 months.
The 2007-2008 teams all made the post-season for the first time, with the
2007 men’s and women’s soccer teams advancing to the semi-finals. The
baseball team took Young Harris to extra innings in the championship game of
the state tournament to finish second. The highlight of the year was the
softball team, which won the Region XVII state title and played in the
national tournament in Plant City, Fla.
In 2008, the men’s soccer team finished with at least 10 wins for the tenth
straight year, and advanced to the state semi-finals.
Each coach had a few moments at the podium to make remarks about his program
and introduce his players. Rob Brunel, who serves as athletic director and
head coach of the women’s soccer and softball teams, reported that two of
his players, Jemilia Mathlin (First Team) and Kermica Alexander (Second
Team) made the 2007 All Conference Teams. Both athletes ended the year as
two of the top scorers in the nation.
Head baseball coach Scott Sims skippered his Tigers to a runner-up finish in
2008. “We did well at the end, which is always our goal. The reason we’ve
been successful is we have a great bunch of guys. We had a good year, and we
made a great run at the end,” he said. Coach Sims said his parents did an
excellent job of supporting the team, and his players developed good
chemistry throughout the year.
Men’s soccer coach Al Horner said the ’07 team ended its year with a 15-5
record. The ’08 team followed with a 12-4 record. This year’s team was
ranked as high as 12th in the nation at one point. Their season earned them
a bye in the first round, putting them automatically in the semi-finals for
the second consecutive year.
The highlight of the evening came when Coach Brunel took the podium once
again, this time to recognize the state champion softball team. Brunel’s
first year at SGC was 2007. Though the team didn’t make the post-season,
they did turn in the Lady Tigers’ first winning record in a number of years.
The team went 24-14, and Coach Brunel said he knew he had a good team coming
back. In ’08, his girls knew what to expect. He said they worked hard and
bought into his system. “We were a team of different personalities but we
had good chemistry,” he said.
That chemistry carried the Lady Tigers into the playoffs as the region’s
third seed after a 33-19 regular season record. That set up a phenomenal run
through the region tournament that saw SGC emerge as the state champions for
the first time since moving to fast pitch many years ago. Pitcher Mariko
Nomura was named the tournament MVP.
The Lady Tigers went on to play in the national tournament in Plant City,
Fla., ending the season 20th in the nation. “We were a blue collar,
roll-your-sleeves-up-and-go-to-work kind of team,” said Coach Brunel. To
honor their achievement, Coach Brunel presented the team with state
championship rings and unveiled a large banner that will be displayed in the
gym.
“We appreciate what you do on the field and in the classroom. You are
ambassadors for this institution,” said Foundation chair (and former SGC
athletic director) Grace James.
Interim SGC President Dr. Virginia Carson also spoke to the athletes at the
banquet. “We believe that student-athletes are an important part of South
Georgia College. Our student-athletes are here first to get an education,
and to develop as athletes. You make a unique contribution to this college
and we are thankful for your hard work. I would like to thank the Foundation
for putting this event together. It has been a wonderful celebration of
South Georgia College,” she said.
The sponsors that made the golf tournament possible are as follows:
Team sponsors: BB&T, Georgia Palm Beach Aluminum Window Corp., Hennesy
Insurance Agency, The Trophy Barn, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Smith, and Jeff Kight
and Friends. Hole sponsors are as follows: Colony Bank, Farrar, Hennesy and
Tanner, PCC Airfoils Inc., and Preston & Preston.
Individual sponsors: Aztec Finance Company, Dr. Grace James, Dr. Jim
Cottingham, Dr. Virginia Carson, Lott Builders, Mr. James Dennis, Mrs. Diane
Lott, McElroy Printing, Meeks Insurance Agency, Realty South, and Rep. Chuck
Sims.
The following businesses donated door prizes: Becky’s Gift & Antiques, Danny
Ross State Farm Insurance Agency, Danny’s Pizza, El Potro, Flyin’ Cowboy,
Paradise Tan, Ruby Tuesday, Norris Shoes, St. John’s Steak and Seafood, and
Wal-Mart.
Jerry J’s donated breakfast and Douglas National Bank furnished lunch.
Fender-Goggans Orthodontics sponsored the longest drive contest.
Photos:
Golf tourney 1:
Team Kight (Jeff Kight, Matt Greer, David Vickers and Gabe Evans) won first
place gross with a score of 62. Pictured are Evans, Greer and Kight.
Golf tourney 2: SGC alum and
professional baseball player Jason Childers (left) won the long drive
contest. He is pictured with athletic director Rob Brunel.
Golf tourney 3:The SGC women’s
softball team unveiled a banner recognizing their 2008 state championship at
the athletic celebration following the golf tournament. They also received
championship rings.
Golf tourney 4: The softball team
displays their state title rings.
Golf tourney 5: SGC baseball coach
Scott Sims gathers with a few of the players from the 2008 squad. The
baseball Tigers finished second in the conference.
Golf tourney 6: Jason Childers hits
his drive on number one.
Golf tourney 7: Hennesy Insurance
won first place net with a score of 60. Pictured from the team are Keith
Woodward and Jeff Hennesy.
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About South Georgia College
South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu)
was founded in 1906 and is a two-year institution in the University System
of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives
students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close
collaboration with faculty.
