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At this time we’d like to begin our recognition and awards portion of the program. 

The fall season at Greensboro College was one of the most successful in Pride athletic history. From the men’s soccer team reaching the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the seventh straight year—to the volleyball team sharing a Dixie Conference regular season championship for the second consecutive time—there were many highlights in the fall of 2000.

Prior to recognizing each club, let’s take a moment to watch video highlights from the  Greensboro College fall season! 

I’d like to invite Coach Lojko and the Greensboro College women’s volleyball team award winners to please join me on stage. As they come forward, allow me to share some highlights of their season.
Women’s Volleyball “No Doubts” was the slogan for women’s volleyball this year. The team had a record of 29-7—the second best in GC volleyball history. The Pride ranked as high as fourth in the South Region. I would say they certainly had no doubts! 

This year’s team accomplished all their goals but one: winning the DIAC Tournament to  receive the automatic berth to play in the NCAA Tournament. With a heartbreaking 15-13 loss in the fifth game to Averett, the team was denied a post-season bid. 
But the season was indeed a great one. The Pride tied for first place in the regular season, was ranked regionally all season, won the GC Invitational, went undefeated in The Emory and Henry Invitational, and tied for second at the Emory Tournament. 

The 2000 GC team set a school record for most wins, beginning the season with a 12-0 start. The Pride also set a new mark with 25 straight wins at Hanes Gym over the last three years. 

As Coach Lojko says, “I preach team chemistry each year, but that is truly what makes the 2000 team so special. These players worked very hard to do the things that make champions. Although we did not make the NCAA Tournament, this team will remember how much they accomplished. They were champions before they ever played in the DIAC Tournament Finals.”

Individual honors poured in for The Pride this season. Tricia Ziegler and Tineta McMillan received All Tournament at the Emory and Henry Invitational. Tineta and Karen Adams made All Tournament at the GC Invitational, with Tricia receiving MVP honors. 

Karen was a Verizon-CoSIDA academic second team all-region pick. Tricia was also named to the All Tournament Team at the Emory University Invitational.

First Team All DIAC honors went to Tricia and Karen, with Tineta and Amy Gibson receiving second team honors. Amy was also voted Rookie-of-the-Year in the DIAC. Karen, Amy and Tineta each made the DIAC All Tournament Team. And finally, Jean Lojko was voted Co-Coach of the Year in the Conference. 

Karen Adams set the new school record for assists in a season with a total of 1,281. Tricia Ziegler set the new school record for digs in games…in a season…in a career. She also set the record for matches played in a career. But volleyball is certainly a team game, and before we present the individual awards, I’d like to invite the entire team to stand and be recognized.

Now let’s begin the individual team awards with the Most Improved Player Award.

Coach Lojko says, “This player made tremendous gains throughout the volleyball season. She had a lot to learn at the beginning, but I knew if she continued to work hard, she would achieve great things. This fine athlete played her best during the conference tournament, and really deserved the MVP of the tournament. Luckily for GC volleyball, we’ll have her back for three more years!” The Most Improved Player Award goes to Amy Gibson.

Next, is the Coach’s Award. 

Coach Lojko says this about Karen Adams: “There are few players who have it all and do it all. Karen is one of those rare talents. She can play any position on court, and is a great role model. She does everything right. I have told many people Karen is the one player we could not afford to lose.  She proved her value to the team again this season by setting new records…but especially by being a great leader.” The Coach’s Award goes to Karen Adams.

The final award goes to the Most Valuable Player. Coach Lojko says this about Tricia Ziegler: “Tricia is one of those players with tremendous talent who channeled her aggressiveness into “a positive” for our team. She was truly a great leader this season—and has always given 100 percent on the court. Tricia’s individual awards and school records place her among the best ever to play volleyball at Greensboro College. I have become a better coach because of Tricia.”  The MVP Award goes to Tricia Ziegler.

Congratulations to the GC volleyball program!

Now I invite Coach Shusterman and the men’s and women’s cross country award winners to please take the stage. As they approach, allow me to share some of their highlights with you.

The 2000 men’s and women’s cross country team began its season in August with a success-oriented agenda. Two major accomplishments for the team in 2000 included personal records and a new school record. These student athletes all broke personal records this past season. And Tracey Comune set a new mark on the women’s side, so The Pride met these two goals set entering the year.

Under first year head coach Jill Shusterman, this team formed a tight-bond. Her energy and dedication is contagious and inspired the team. With the help of a strong recruiting that has already committed, expect Greensboro College cross country to make significant strides next season.

We’re proud of this dedicate group….We now invite the Pride cross country team to stand and be recognized!

The first cross country award tonight is the men’s coach’s award. As a runner, this athlete  continually improved. After running at Hagan Stone Park over the course of his Pride career, this senior set a personal best in 2000. He will be missed by his teammates both for his involvement with the cross country team, and as a campus leader. The men’s team Coach’s Award goes to Kyle Stein.

The next award goes to the men’s most valuable runner. This athlete is just beginning to tap into his potential. Despite being a freshman, he led the team throughout the season. His team spirit, helpfulness and commitment to the squad were priceless. This runner will continue to offer the team athletic skill—and dedication—making him one of the best runners ever to represent Greensboro College. Ladies and gentlemen, the Most Valuable Male Runner is Kevin Egan.

For the women’s 2000 team, this most valuable runner consistently led the team week after week. She displayed a tremendous work ethic, attitude and team spirit. She broke her own Greensboro College 5K record, and could easily set a new mark next season. Tracey Comune is the foundation of Pride cross country…and our Women’s Most Valuable Runner.

The next honor this evening goes to The Pride’s most improved runner. This student-athlete improved every week, despite weather obstacles and running new courses. Although this was her first year on the squad, she led the cross country team with her enthusiasm, tenacity and ability to persevere. She got stronger—both mentally and physically—which lifted the spirits of the entire team. Heather Gibson is cross country’s  Most Improved Runner. 

The women’s team coach’s award—our final cross country honor—goes to an individual who displayed both pride and leadership. She consistently sought new ways to motivate teammates and bring excitement to upcoming meets. Thanks to her hard work, she helped Greensboro College to a fourth place finish at the conference meet. Staci Clark is the Coach’s Award winner.
Congratulations to the GC cross country team. 

Coach Shank and the women’s soccer award winners, please take the stage. As they  approach, allow me to share some of their season’s highlights with you.

Each season brings a new beginning. The 2000 women's soccer campaign started with the motto, "Attitude: the little thing that makes a big difference." And if you stopped by any practice or game you would have seen a dedicated, determined group of women with just the right attitude—doing their best to represent Greensboro College.

The year started off well as The Pride ended the first half of the season with a 5-3-2 mark--and a share of 2nd place in the conference--the best start in the history of the program.  Unfortunately, the second half of the season saw several player injuries and untimely "bad breaks.” The result was a season-ending record of 5-8-3. Despite the season-ending turn, The Pride finished with their best record in years, and a bright outlook for the future.

The Pride returns every player to the roster next season, and anticipates an incoming freshman class of 10 new players. The standards the players and coaches have set for the women's soccer program are within reach for the 2001 season.

At this time, we ask the Greensboro College women’s soccer team members to please stand so that we may recognize you collectively.

And now, on to the team awards:

In her first season on the women's soccer team, this young lady made tremendous strides in her ability and understanding of the game. She approached every day with an unparalleled desire to improve, and become a more complete player. Regardless of the obstacles in front of her, the attitude she displayed was a model for her teammates. And her love for the game was contagious. The Most Improved Player Award goes to freshman Amy Barnes.

A successful season is not always measured by how many goals you score, or by how many saves you make. Contribution to the team’s success is an important part of the equation. And there always seems to be someone on the team who just makes everybody better. This season’s MVP showed her true importance through her versatility. She played four different positions, and accepted each with a great attitude and desire to learn. These are just a few of the reasons this year’s Most Valuable Player Award goes to junior Krystal Luebke.

A team is comprised of many players, each with their own distinct personalities—yet there is always one person who seems to get along with everybody. This young lady displayed great effort and determination on the field…and warmth and compassion off the field. Playing all season with obstacles that would have made others crumble, she became a monument of inspiration for those around her. Her constant dedication--and desire for excellence--is what makes it a pleasure to present this year's Team Award to sophomore Valerie Bailey.

Great job, Pride women’s soccer team!!!

Coach Kirby, you and your Pride football award winners are invited to the stage…

The 2000 Greensboro College football team completed its most successful grid season in GC’s four years of intercollegiate play. The Pride closed the season with an impressive 35-20 win over cross-town rival Guilford College. The victory gave Greensboro a 5-5 record, the first Pride football team to reach Five hundred (.500)

A good year came very close to being a great one for GC. Greensboro lost a heartbreaking overtime game to Ferrum, 17-14. The Pride’s final two home games—against Methodist and Frostburg State—were not decided until the final play of the game. Another highlight for GC was beating in-state rival Chowan for the first time in program history. 

Of course, the 2000 season was a special year for another reason: This year’s football senior class was the first ever for GC.
Twelve players have been with the program since its inception in 1997. These players took a few licks in the first two years of Greensboro football—but it was The Pride who dished out much of the punishment the past two! 

Among the players playing their last games for the green and white, were the top three “skill players” in Greensboro College history. 

Quarterback Wes Wilder closed his career as the GC leader in passing.  He had 1,505 yards in 2000—the most of his four years as a starting GC signal caller. 

Wide receiver Mark Bauer ended his Pride career as the all-time receiving leader. Bauer recorded 122 catches for 1,736 yards in his four years at GC. 

Running back Daryl Gholson fittingly finished his Pride career with a bang against Guilford College. The Pride career-rushing leader carried the ball 34 times for 274 yards against the Quakers. Those marks broke his own Greensboro records. 

 We’re proud of these warriors. Let’s invite the Greensboro College football team to please stand so that we may recognize them collectively.

 And now, on to the team awards:

Freshman Brandon Tholen is the recipient of the Outstanding Newcomer Award.  Brandon made an immediate impact as a defensive player with 35 tackles and 1 sack. Says Coach Kirby, “Brandon’s hard work, commitment and willingness to learn serve him well. If he continues this pattern, we expect him to be an all-conference player next season.”  Congratulations Brandon.

Next, the Coach’s Award goes to senior Derrick Mosier. Says Coach Kirby, “Derrick is one of the most dedicated individuals I have ever coached. He was an inspiration to his teammates throughout his 4 years at GC. He finished the year being named All-Conference honorable mention for defense, with 2 interceptions and 38 tackles.” Our coach’s award winner is Derrick Mosier.
 

The Most Valuable Player Award this evening goes to quarterback Wes Wilder. As Coach Kirby says, “All of us with GC football have gone through growing pains. But Wes was the primary starting quarterback for The Pride the past four years. He showed great leadership and resilience. This past season, Wes improved tremendously—both as a passer and a runner in the 2000 season. Wes finished second in the conference in total offense and  passing yardage.” 

Congratulations Wes and to the Greensboro College football team!

Coach Powell and your men’s soccer award winners, please join me on stage. As they approach, allow me to recap the 2000 men’s soccer season. 

The Pride men’s soccer team got off to one of the best starts in Greensboro College history, racing to a 4-0 record. During this period, GC outscored its opponents by a whopping 26-2 margin.
GC eventually finished second in the Dixie Conference regular season. In the conference tournament, The Pride defeated Ferrum and advanced to play at number one seed Christopher Newport. Avenging a regular-season loss with a 2-1 overtime victory, Greensboro College earned the automatic berth into the NCAAs. 

The Pride drew Virginia Wesleyan in the first round. Greensboro again avenged a mid-season loss—this time to the Marlins—with a 3-2 victory that advanced The Pride into the South Region Final Four. The team was eliminated in their 2nd round game.

The year culminated with The Pride finishing  #12 in the nation. Its NCAA Tournament appearance was the seventh consecutive season that Greensboro College reached the post-season. 

In addition to the team awards, a number of GC players had outstanding years. Brandon Overby ended his Pride career with 90 points--second on the all-time list. Overby also broke the school single season assist record with 18—which placed him 2nd in the nation. Duncan Edwards scored 25 goals, and was 3rd in the nation in goals. He also set a new GC single season point total of 52.

Following the season, Brandon, Duncan and Glen Collins were selected to the All-South Region Team. Brandon, Duncan, Glen,  Michael Smith and Jason Papaj were selected to the First Team All-Dixie Conference. Reggie Koranteng and Charlie Blackwell earned a spot on the second team. Duncan Edwards grabbed the Dixie Conference MVP and Charlie Blackwell received the Rookie-of- the -Year award.

Guys, we never get tired of recognizing such high-achievers. Please stand, so that we can collectively recognize the GC men’s soccer team for their achievements!

And now, on to tonight’s awards:

The rookie of the year award is presented to a player who balanced playing well with academic achievement. This young man works hard at whatever he does. Whether on or off the field, this rookie-of-the-year is someone you can always depend on. His strong defensive play--as well as his aerial presence when going forward--was a threat in the opposition’s box. Coach Powell says, “Michael worked well for us this year. He fit into our team easily, and displays a tremendous attitude and work ethic. We expect him to continue to progress, and suspect he will be even better next year.” Freshman Michael Smith is the 2000 Rookie-of-the-Year.

The most improved player award goes to the athlete who has shown the most improvement from the start of the season to the finish. Many players developed well during the 2000 soccer season. But one in particular worked hard all summer long, only to suffer an injury two weeks prior to pre-season camp. This meant the player had to stay in shape while rehabilitating his knee, then rejoin a team already off to a flying start. He succeeded. By the end of the year, this player was a starting center mid-fielder on one of the country’s best defenses: a long way from a knee injury in August.

Says Coach Powell: “Buddy Forward demonstrated what can be achieved by staying positive and focused. He never quit. We hope he can develop into a real force next season—and become one of the Pride team leaders.” This year’s Most Improved Player Award goes to sophomore Buddy Forward. 

The most valuable player award is usually the hardest to decide, but this year’s award is an easy choice. The most significant event of this player’s young life took place mid-season when his father passed away. Exemplifying strength—both as a person and a team captain—his teammates could not help but look up to and admire him. His play was unselfish. He set up 18 goals—breaking GC’s single season assist record. 

Coach Powell says: “Brandon Overby became more than just a player to me over the three years we had together. I have seen him grow through some tough times, and  I am very glad I had the opportunity to coach him. I wish Brandon the best for the future.” 

Brandon recently signed a professional contract with the Carolina Dynamo of the United States Soccer League. Unfortunately, Brandon has a game tonight: The Dynamo is playing against GC assistant coach Matt Farris and the Charleston Batteryat Bryan Park, as we speak. Accepting the MVP award for Brandon Overby is 3-year teammate Glen Collins. Congratulations, Brandon, and thank you Glen. 

Great job again to the GC men’s soccer team members! As they leave the stage, we conclude the fall portion of our program. 

Next we invite you to enjoy video highlights of the Greensboro College Winter Sports teams!

I’d like to invite Coach Mahlum and the GC women’s basketball award winners to the stage. As they come forward, allow me share some highlights from the past season. 

The Greensboro College women’s basketball team finished with an overall record of 9-16. In Dixie Conference games, The Pride was 6-6. 

There were very positive signs during the 2000-01 season. In a two-week span, The Pride won five of six games, and had a four game winning streak. During this same period, Greensboro posted two wins over Peace College, and victories over conference foes Averett, North Carolina Wesleyan and Shenandoah. 

Individually, sophomore guard Whittney Clendenin led the Dixie Conference in three-point shooting. Also, four very special seniors—Karin Johnson, Jennifer Lea, Lindsay Merkl and Tricia Ziegler--finished their collegiate careers with The Pride in 2001.

Two-sport athlete Ziegler closed four years with 1,056 points—placing her fourth on the GC all-time scoring list. Lea finished her tenure at GC averaging almost nine points a game. Johnson, the leading scorer this season, was the team’s ambidextrous inside-penetrator. Merkl led The Pride in minutes played and steals. 

Says Coach Mahlum, “This group of young ladies will always be special to me. I started my college coaching career at Greensboro College with these four individuals. We’ve lived and learned together, both on and off the court.”

We’re proud of this talented group of women, and invite the entire Greensboro College women’s basketball squad to please stand so that we may recognize you!

 And now to this year’s honorees:

The most improved player award goes to someone who took the off-season and made it her own. This player’s willingness to improve her game—while pushing her teammates to become better—helps to define the term “team oriented.” Our most improved player continues to make performance strides. Congratulations to sophomore, Stephanie Philip, GC women’s basketball Most Improved Player.

The coach’s award is being presented to a player who wasn’t always the leader in stats—yet was so vital to the team chemistry was disrupted whenever she missed practice or a game. This player assumed the responsibility for all of the intangible, behind-the-scene duties that need to be accomplished for a team to be successful.  Senior Lindsey Merkl led by example and is the 2000-2001 Coach’s Award winner.

The most valuable player award goes to a player who demonstrated a variety of skills and abilities. She took her junior season one step up from the previous year when she was named the most improved player as a sophomore. Hard work does pay off! She played consistently well throughout the 2000 season. She averaged eight points and seven rebounds per contest. The MVP Award goes to junior Tineta McMillan.

Congratulations to the women’s basketball team! 

Would the women’s swimming award winners and Coach Thornton please come to the stage. As they come forward, allow me recap the 2000-2001 GC swimming season.

The Greensboro College women's swimming team closed the 2000-2001 season with a 6-5 record. Six victories are the most ever achieved by a GC team in dual competition. 

Amanda Sharp set three Greensboro College records during the recently concluded season. Her best times in the 500 freestyle, the 1000 freestyle and the 400 individual medley bettered previous GC benchmarks in each event. 

The Pride had one other record set in the recently completed season: Tara Norcross broke the 100 freestyle mark with a time of fifty eight point four nine seconds (58.49.) The freshman leads a group of returnees hoping to improve on GC's 11th place finish at the Atlantic States championship next year. Fellow freshman Lara Porter, who excels in the backstroke, joins Norcross in a strong group of returnees for next season. 

Tracey Comune, last season's most valuable swimmer, returns for her senior season. Rising juniors Rachel Babcock, Tabitha Backus and Kristen Wills lay the groundwork for an improved squad in the coming year. 

"We've just reached the tip of the iceberg of what we can do with the Greensboro College women's swimming program," Thornton said. "We expect to build on our positive experiences this year and set higher goals for the future." 

With that said, we’d like to invite the Greensboro College swimming team members to please stand and be recognized.

Our swimming award winners are as follows:

The Most Valuable Swimmer Award goes to Amanda Sharp. Says Coach Thornton: “Amanda is the exact definition of most valuable swimmer. She displayed confidence in her leadership, provided a forceful direction for the team, and demonstrated the will to have her final season at Greensboro College be her best. All this became evident, by the way, in my first 30 seconds of meeting with her!”

Amanda Sharp’s determination was a vital ingredient to the success of her teammates—and the team’s winning record. She set three school records in the 1000 yard freestyle, the 500 yard freestyle, and the 400 yard individual medley. 

Adds Coach Thornton, “Acquiring this prestigious title means an individual must commit to the highest goals both for self and team--and leave a signature for others to follow.  Amanda Sharp has done so.” Congratulations to the Most Valuable Swimmer, Amanda Sharp!

The Coach’s Award goes to Rachel Babcock. Coach Thornton says: “Rachel Babcock is recognized as the coach’s award recipient for her everyday dedication to the betterment of herself and her teammates. Rachel was a willing participant in any swimming event. She performed daily to the best of her abilities, and was very receptive to correction in technique. This fine athlete worked diligently to improve on both weak and strong areas of her swimming. She was a valuable asset in terms of team organization and stability – always willing to provide an encouraging word or perspective. I know the Greensboro College’s swimming program has turned toward a brighter future because of the presence of Rachel Babcock.” Great job, Rachel!

The Newcomer Award goes to Tara Norcross. Says Coach Thornton: “As a freshman, Tara displayed pride for her new school by coming to each swimming meet ready to be competitive, especially in relay positions. Her teammates could always count on her to give her best effort when it counted most – as demonstrated by her performances at the Atlantic States Swimming Championships. I look for Tara to continually improve throughout her stay at Greensboro College, and contribute as leader as we build our swim program to exciting heights.”

Let’s give a big round of applause for the 2000-2001 women’s swimming team for a great season!

The men's basketball team finished 5-7 and in 5th place in the Dixie Conference. The Pride finished with a deceiving 10-16 overall record—with several losses coming by very thin margins. Hanes Gym once again proved to be a terrific place to participate in a college basketball game. The Pride played well at home and enjoyed some great moments.  One in particular was jumping out to a 30 to 4 lead against Ferrum College on Senior Night. 

Says Coach Payne,  “We played an up tempo, full court pressure style of play throughout most of the season. Although we lost several very close games, “close” was not good enough. We decided a change of style and philosophy were needed.  Changing mid-stream can be a difficult proposition, but the players adapted. We finished strong: winning 5 of 7 games at the end. Included in that total was a tournament win against Methodist College.” 

Seniors Lee Tucker, Wes Linzy, Cliff Joyner, Ed McKee, Donzell Owens, Phil Tensley, and Lamont Sides all made valuable contributions to the team—allowing The Pride to improve as the season progressed. 

Tucker won the Michael Fleming award for best free-throw shooting, Tensley was the leading rebounder and earned the Allen Kivett honor, and the Steve Vacendak Captain’s Award was presented to McKee, Tucker and Linzy for their leadership. 

Coach Payne says, “Many thanks to the senior class: We appreciate all you did for the Greensboro College basketball program.  With a solid nucleus of players returning for next season, the challenge will be to elevate the program to an even higher level in the Dixie Conference.”

The team extends a special thank you to Assistant Coach Jeff Smith. His hard work and dedication in his role of assistant coach were invaluable. Also, The Pride would also like to thank the athletic training staff, in particular student trainers Kim Humphrey and Brandon Noyes.

Prior to presenting tonight’s major awards for men’s basketball, I now invite the members of the Greensboro College men’s basketball team to please stand so that we may recognize them collectively.

And now on to the honorary awards. 

This year’s newcomer award goes to a player who made an immediate impact on the team.  Daron Williams is the well-deserved recipient of this award. Daron was among the leading percentage shooters from the field, the three point line, and the free throw line, as well as the fourth leading rebounder. He also had the team's best assist to turnover ratio. The Newcomer Award Winner is Daron Williams.

The coach’s award is presented to a player who puts the team above self, is coachable in all areas, and is willing to do the little things that help a team be successful. As Coach Payne says: “Pat did the little things that help in improving one’s game. He made tremendous progress this season.” This year's winner of the Coach’s Award is Pat Small. 

The young man who receives this year’s most valuable player award was the team's most consistent player. He gave his all—always—and was productive night in and night out.  He led the team in three point percentage shooting and rebounding, and was the team’s best defender. A joy to coach and a deserving MVP, ladies and gentlemen, Phil Tensley. 

Thanks to the men’s basketball team! 

We now invite cheerleading coach Wanda Lane-Illescas and this year’s award winners in cheerleading to come forward. As they approach the stage, allow me to share some highlights from the 2000-2001 cheerleading season.

The Greensboro College cheerleading squad had a successful year. The thirteen ladies focused on team building, developing spirit and promoting safety through enhancing skills.

The squad was also able to get involved in outside campus activities through monthly community service projects. These projects included: Kick off activities for Kernodle Middle School; sponsoring a cheer clinic for Guilford Middle School, and participating in the city’s Little Four athletic event by serving as instructors for the half time routine. We appreciate their efforts! Let’s take this moment to have all the cheerleaders stand so that we can recognize them.

The cheerleading awards this year are given to the most valuable cheerleader, most improved cheerleader and best newcomer.
 Most Improved Cheerleader goes to Katrina Branch. This year Katrina learned and developed skills that helped her become a dynamic cheerleader. Says Coach Illescas, “She was dedicated, worked hard, and made great strides in her jumps and movements.” Congratulations Katrina!

Best Newcomer to the squad goes to freshman Tia Parks, an experienced cheerleader who is also a dance major. Coach Illescas says,  “Tia came to Greensboro College as a very skilled cheerleader. She succeeded in every challenge put before her. She also was the best Pride cheerleader at the hand-spring clinic.” Great job, Tia!

The Most Valuable Cheerleader goes to Beth Lowery, a senior and captain. Beth becomes the first 3-time winner of the most valuable cheerleader award. Coach Illescas has this to say about Beth: “She’s a hard-worker who puts everything into being a Pride cheerleader. Beth is a great leader, and she has been our captain for three sesaons. She’s a Dean’s List student who will be missed in cheerleading, as well as in the entire campus community.” 
Congratulations Beth and to the 2000-2001 Greensboro College cheerleaders!!

As soon as these students are seated, we’ll the have lights dimmed please so you can join me in viewing a video featuring the Greensboro College Spring Sports Programs!

I’ll now invite Coach Cetrone and the 2001 GC men’s lacrosse award winners to join us on stage. As they approach, allow me to share a brief recap of their season. 

The Pride lacrosse squad--an NCAA Division III Independent--plays a very difficult schedule. In fact, GC once again played one of the toughest strength-of-schedules in the country, resulting in a hard-fought 3-10 record this year. 

All the 10 teams that GC lost to were nationally-ranked at the time of their game--or are currently ranked-in the U.S.I.L.A. top 20. Says Coach Cetrone: “Regional and then national recognition is what we’re striving for. It may take time, but with the right attitude, focus and discipline The Pride will be beating the top teams very soon.”

Coach Cetrone and the team would like to thank his assistant coach--Geoff Mears--for his time and dedication throughout this season.  Also, men’s lacrosse recognizes and thanks Erica Goldberg, Mike Lackemacher, Curt Mauger, Lindsey Merkl and Cory Taylor for taking care of the little things that go unnoticed on a day-to-day basis.

The men's lacrosse team acknowledges seniors Mars Anguiano, Mike Cappe, Jack Christensen, Joe Corbett, Chieu Lam, Curtis Perez, Jay Sothoron and Trevor Shattuck.  Seniors scored 9 of GC’s 11 goals en-route to beating cross-town rival Guilford, 11-7, on Wednesday. 

At this time, I’d like to ask The Pride men’s lacrosse team  to please stand and be collectively recognized. 

And now, on to the awards.
 

The first men's lacrosse award this evening is the Most Improved Player Award…and this award goes to Rob Crowley. Rob came into the season needing to develop his skills. Through his desire, hard work and determination, he made tremendous strides. This young man should be a serious contributor to next season’s Pride squad. Congratulations Rob Crowley.

Next is the Newcomer Award. This award is presented to the player who, in his first season with The Pride, made the biggest impact for his team.  Coach Cetrone expects a lot from this player, both on and off the field, for the remainder of his career. Tim Ryan came to Greensboro College as a highly touted defensive mid-fielder. Throughout the season, Tim was asked to play on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball, and also on the man-up unit. As a freshman, this is a huge responsibility. But Tim took it in stride—and always wanted more. He will be a major player in Division III for the coming years. Congratulations, Tim.

And finally, the Most Valuable Player for the men's lacrosse team is senior goalie Mike Cappe. Mike has been through a lot during his years at GC, but he stayed focused and was a mainstay in the goal.  He played the most difficult position with passion and heart. He left everything on the field. These are the qualities you hope your MVP will demonstrate and demand from his teammates. Cappe has done that, and he will be  missed. Thank you, Mike.  Your accomplishments at GC will not be forgotten….The MVP is Mike Cappe! 

Congratulations to the GC men’s  lacrosse team!

Now we ask Coach Lackemacher and the 2001 GC women’s lacrosse award winners to join us on stage. As they approach, allow me to share a brief recap of their season.

The Women’s Lacrosse program continues to move in a positive direction.  The Pride finished 7-8 this season, again breaking their single season win record.  They also won the first ever Dixie Conference regular season AND DIAC Tournament championships for women’s lacrosse.

The Pride ended up 5-0 in conference matches and outscored Dixie opponents 58 to 23. In last week’s DIAC Tournament, The Pride beat CNU—the host team—8-6 to  capture the championship. 

Individually, Greensboro College placed 5 players on the Dixie All Tournament team: Lorin Smith, Rebecca Beninghove, Maura Smith, Tracy Woehr, and Stephanie Schaeffer. Stephanie was also named MVP of the tournament. 

Yesterday, it was announced that five players: Schaeffer, Benninghove, Tracey Woehr, Maura and Lorin Smith made the DIAC first team. Benninghove shared conference rookie-of-the-year honors. Lorin Smith earned the conference’s most valuable player recognition, and Mike Lackemacher was the Coach-of-the-Year. 

Coach Lackemacher says: “This team deserves every bit of recognition for the success they’ve had this year.  We asked a lot more of each other this season than we have in the past. We expected more, and it paid off. The Pride went 1-1 with cross town rival Guilford.  And the team put another notch in its belt by knocking off Sweet Briar College 12-6.” 

We’re delighted with their accomplishments. Let’s have the Pride women’s lacrosse team stand be recognized.

Now, on to the awards:

The first winner is a young lady who had never played the game before. This retired field hockey player was obviously born to play lacrosse.  She played just about every position for The Pride this year and did it well.  Her desire to learn the game, and her willingness to work hard, made her a huge asset to the team.
“She is one of those players who simply nods her head and says ‘ok I’ll do it’ and then she goes out gets the job done,” said Coach Lackemacher. This year’s Most Improved Player is Michele Barker.

Commenting on the next honoree, Lackemacher says: “This young lady was a nice addition to our program.  Her strength and speed quickly led her to be a solid force in the defensive end.  Yet, given the opportunity, she was not afraid to move up the field with her teammates to assist in clearing the ball, or to go over into our offensive 3rd to put it into the back of the net.  Her work ethic is one every coach wishes for. She does everything it takes to become the best she can be. She has a great attitude and is always pushing her teammates to do their best.”  This year’s Newcomer Award goes to Leah Taylor. 

It should come as no real surprise to anyone who has come to see the women’s lacrosse team play this year that Lorin Smith has been named MVP.  This young lady was in every team’s scouting report, but they still couldn’t stop her.  She broke her own records for most goals in a season with 53 -- and most points in a season with 71.  Then she went on to break the record for most assists in a season with 18.  In just two seasons, Lorin has placed herself at #2 among the all-time leading scorers at Greensboro College with 135 points -- just 33 points behind the leader.

Says Coach Lackemacher, “Lorin’s an amazing lacrosse player who will continue to get better.  She doesn’t think anyone can stop her. That’s what makes her so good.”    This year’s MVP Award goes to Lorin Smith.

Congratulations to The Pride women’s lacrosse team!

Coach Rash and the baseball award winners, please come forward…
Baseball Before we talk about this year’s baseball team, paint your own picture of what you think the outlook might have been for the 2001 baseball season.

Last year’s team produced a mere ten wins, the fewest in the program’s history. From this team, the players who accounted for 85% of the offensive production—runs, hits and RBIs—were not a part of the 2001 roster. Five pitchers were lost from the 2000 team, all of whom accounted for 60% of the victories on the mound. 

According to Coach Rash, “I think the youthfulness of this team actually worked to our advantage. Most of our guys were too young to understand how bad we were supposed to be…and our upperclassmen refused to let them believe we didn’t belong on the field with anybody we played.”

Big wins this year included a regular season sweep of eventual Dixie Conference regular season champion Methodist College, and a road split with eventual tournament champion Christopher Newport University. 

The baseball team ended the 2001 campaign with a final record of 19-16, finishing fifth in the regular season and 4th in the conference tournament.  Added Coach Rash about the season and the future of the program, “If these guys can commit themselves to the fundamentals of baseball, having the pitchers throw strikes and the fielders make the routine play, the next few years should be very productive ones for this program.”

Would the Greensboro College baseball team please stand and be recognized!

Now to the team awards:

First is the Rookie of the Year award.  While a few names could be considered for this award due to the number of freshmen who positively impacted the program, one stood out: Donte Miles.  In his first year of college baseball, Donte posted a .367 batting average, was 4th in runs batted in, and second in doubles.  Donte is a front-runner for Freshman-of-the-Year in the Dixie Conference. Congratulations, Donte.

The next award is the Most Valuable Player. In this case, Most Valuable Players.  One of these gentlemen led the team on the field and at the plate while the other led the team on the mound.  They are Cody Mikeal and Bob Stewart. 

Cody’s .351 batting average was third best on the team, while his 28 RBI’s placed him second.  And while these numbers are impressive, probably the most valuable contribution Cody made to the team was his defensive versatility. During the season, Cody spent the majority of his time in center-field, left-field or second base, and he only made 8 errors all season. Against LaGrange College, Cody actually played all nine defensive positions, making him the first to accomplish this feat at Greensboro College.  Ladies and gentlemen, your Co-MVP  Cody Mikeal.

The second co-MVP from the 2001 baseball team is fellow senior Bob Stewart.  “Stewie” as he is known on the field, posted six wins this season against only 2 losses.  He also collected 2 saves along the way.  Bob led the team this year in wins, saves, innings pitched, earned run average and appearances.  His 26 strikeouts versus just 7-walks, puts his walk-to-strikeout ratio amongst the best to ever pitch at Greensboro College. Ladies and gentlemen, Co-MVP  Bob Stewart.

Congratulations to the Greensboro College baseball team for another successful season!

Would Coach Guiliano and the softball award winners please come to the stage?

With  last year’s inaugural season under their belts, 2001 Pride softball did a complete “180”—winning 22 and losing 15, compared with last year’s 13 and 21 record. 

There were many highlights this season, including wins over Emory & Henry and conference rival Ferrum.  A one-run loss to NC Wesleyan and a two-run loss to Roanoke College--both nationally recognized programs-- signaled the fast progress of Greensboro softball. 
According to Coach Guiliano “We won the games we were supposed to, and were extremely competitive against the more established teams in the Region.”

The Pride batters ranked 2nd in the conference, hitting .350, while three players made the top 10 in batting average: Emily Clodfelter at .435,  Karin Johnson with a .391 and Missy Fesperman at .385.  Johnson also ranked 7th in ERA  and led the conference in strikeouts per innings pitched.  Fesperman, the lone GC player to be selected to the all conference team, was first in the DIAC in triples.

The improvement of this year’s team was so dramatic, it is impossible to single out one player as most improved.  Coach Guiliano  remarked,  “We had a majority of our players going to the batting cages or throwing on their own.  This individual ownership is the reason for our turnaround. With 13 underclassmen on the roster, the future certainly looks bright for Greensboro Softball.”
Now we ask the 2001 GC softball team to please stand and be recognized!

And now on to the softball awards. This year two players will receive the coach’s award.

 The first award-winner is a second year player who, as the saying goes, would run through a brick wall for the team. “I’m not sure she’d get through a brick wall,” reflects Guiliano. “But I’ve seen her crash into fences on numerous occasions chasing down foul balls.  Becca is the consummate team player.”  This year’s Coach’s Award Winner, and next season’s team captain, is Rebecca Ashley.

The second coach’s award goes to another true team player, whose maturity helped guide a team with many first and second year players.  Abbey’s bat and fielding ability has made her a mainstay at first base for her two year GC career.  Her leadership and competitive nature set a standard for future Pride players. The Coach’s Award goes to senior captain Abbey Craven.

The MVP for the 2001 season is no stranger to athletic success. As noted earlier, she was a key part of the GC basketball program, and won last year’s softball MVP. Karin established her importance with raw power at the plate, and  a dominating fast ball on the mound.  Her abilities on the field are rivaled only by her desire to win.  Coach Guiliano says of Karin: “Two years ago I made a commitment to build our program around this young lady--I could not have made a better choice.” Congratulations to the 2001 MVP: Karin Johnson.

Congratulations to the GC softball team!

Coach Linville, we now invite you and your award winners to please join us on the stage.

No team at Greensboro College--or in the nation--had bigger shoes to fill than The Pride golf team. GC won the 2000 NCAA championship, bringing the college its first ever national team title. Last year's squad, however, was led by four players whose skill and leadership were not present this season. 

With only one player having recent college experience, The Pride struggled a bit in the fall season. Yet in the spring, the team progressed each match. GC was runner-up at the prestigous Camp Lejeune Tournament and won the Emory University Invitational—which is unofficially the “Major” tournament of the spring. It should be no surprise that Coach Robert Linville has the club in striking distance of another national title. 
Would the Pride golf team please stand so that we may recognize you for your achievements.

The 2001 golf awards are as follows: 

The Most Improved Player is Sergio Turbay. Sergio proved that hard work pays off. His dedication and commitment are traits that make Greensboro College Golf a powerhouse program. Sergio helped the team to a runner-up finish at Camp Lejeune this spring. Coach Linville expects him to continue to work hard and make making positive contributions to the program. Congratulations, Sergio!

The Top Newcomer award goes to our top freshman: Brandon White. According to Coach Linville, “Brandon is extremely talented and very coachable. He finished 7th at the prestigious Gordin Classic in the Fall with scores of 75-71-73. Brandon also finished 7th at the DIAC Conference Tournament, earning second team recognition. He is being considered for Freshman of the Year in the Dixie Conference.” Congratulations, Brandon.

The MVP of the Golf Team is no surprise: 2000 NCAA individual medalist Kevin O'Connell. According to Linville, “Kevin has provided much more than outstanding play on the golf course: He has provided us with championship leadership. This year was a learning experience for everyone, especially our captain. He has learned how to be a leader that everyone admires and respects. Kevin posted 6 top ten finishes, including a 3rd at Pine Needles, a 2nd at Camp Lejeune, and a victory in the Emory Invitational—the most significant event of the spring season. Kevin has been nominated to be a part of the Japan-USA Team Matches held this summer.” Congratulations GC Golf MVP Kevin O’Connell!
 

The Pride Golf team expects to get a bid to the NCAA tournament once again. Invitations go out May 1. Currently, Greensboro is ranked 4th nationally in the Master Card Poll. The five players who will represent Greensboro College are: 

--Junior Kevin O'Connell 
--Junior Kevin Angle 
--Junior Brandon Brookshire 
--Freshman Brandon White 
and sophomore Jonathan Dudley 
Let’s have a big hand for the defending national champions—the Greensboro College golf team!

Coach Strable, we now your men’s tennis award winners to please join us on stage.
As they approach, allow me to share a brief recap of their season.

The men’s tennis team scrambled to a 5-10 regular season record and a 4th place finish in the Dixie Conference Tournament. Trouble began when the top two singles players were declared academically ineligible at the end of the fall semester. Second team all conference player Nickolay Bochilo then suffered a season-ending back injury; junior Brandon Brookshire became a 3-sport letter-winner this spring by earning a spot in the golf team’s starting five. But adversity can also spawn opportunity. And this is how this group of young men chose to view it. 

Players like senior Tommy Waters stepped up as the #1 singles player and impressed everyone with his athleticism and graceful play. Senior Mitch Haney dominated a Division I player from Holy Cross at #2 singles. He also pushed the region’s 6th ranked player to a 7-5 set in the Dixie Conference. Overcoming an unstable shoulder, he hit enough bombs to live up to his nickname, “The Big Show.” 
Junior Lucas Conkle triumphed over the #4 seed from The Citadel, even with a badly scraped knee. And All-American soccer player Henderson Hicks, who didn’t join the team until March, won his first collegiate match and then earned the #4 seed in the conference tournament. 

Meanwhile, first team all-conference soccer player Michael Smith proved his hands were every bit as quick as his feet as the #3 singles player. And senior Pete Kusiak was the champion of the Ferrum Invitational Tournament at #6 singles, and earned third place in the conference tournament. He competed even with a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder—an injury that will require surgery in the coming weeks.
Opportunity often produces courageous warriors. These young men rose to the challenge, and kept The Pride ranked in the region’s top twenty.

Now we request that The Pride men’s tennis team please stand and be recognized.

The Newcomer Award was a difficult choice for the team. Both newcomers contributed in unique ways. However, the Kiwi from New Zealand had to jump two seeds to play #3 singles and also moved to #2 doubles—both quantum leaps in the sport of tennis. This young man played some brilliant tennis in spite of his lack of experience. The Newcomer Award goes to freshman Michael Smith.

The Most Improved Player award goes to an athlete who could also qualify for Most Inspirational Player if such an honor existed.  He battles on the court…and won’t go down easily. This player had some nice wins in both singles and doubles, and finished 3rd in both at the Dixie Conference Tournament. Once again, he will qualify for the Conference All-Academic Team. The Most Improved Player is junior Lucas Conkle.

The Most Valuable Player was also a tough choice. Three seniors in particular brought a variety of leadership qualities to the team. This player, however, experienced the good, the bad and the ugly of Greensboro College tennis in his 4 years—and certainly saved his best for last. 

Tommy Waters went from being an outstanding athlete who could play a little tennis, to one who could play stroke-for-stroke with the best players in the region. In fact, he forced one of the top players in America to a second set tie-breaker at Averett this year. Tommy embodies the work ethic it takes to be a #1 singles and doubles player—always leading by example. This young man has the heart of a champion. We’re pleased to recognize Tommy Waters as the men’s tennis Most Valuable Player.

Congratulations to the GC men’s tennis team!

Now we ask Coach Williams and the GC women’s tennis award-winners to join us on stage. As they approach, allow me to share a brief recap of their season.

“Where did they come from?” That is what is being said around the Atlantic South Region about GC Women’s Tennis Team. In one year, this team has done an about-face, going from a 4-12 record in 2000, to a 17-3 overall record in 2001. 

The Pride started the year with an eight game winning streak and never looked back. Shattering several team and individual records along the way, the netters defeated arch-rivals Meredith and Averett for the first time in recent memory.

Coach Pat Williams says this about the team, “The key to our success is our depth. Most schools are strong at the top, but we have talent everywhere. The team finished second in the conference regular season behind Methodist, and will be ranked in the top ten in the region. Even though they did not make the NCAA Tournament, this team will always be remembered for its great season. Without question, this is the best Women’s Tennis team in GC history, and their accomplishments will be the standard of teams to come.”

The team topped off the season with a great showing in the DIAC Conference Tournament. Jennifer Lea and Meredith Stanley were crowned Conference Champions. Marnie Greenblatt and Karen Adams finished runners-up in their respective flights. Karen Adams and Jennifer Lea also teamed up to finish second in flight #3 in doubles. In addition, Marnie won the Dixie Conference Rookie-of-the-Week award five times this season.

These are impressive achievements from an impressive group of young women. Please stand and be recognized. 

Lets begin the individual team awards:

Coach Williams says this about the coach’s award winners: “Karen Adams and Jennifer Lea bring an athletic style to the tennis court. While they’re play may be unorthodox to some, you can find them in the women’s tennis records in the top ten in singles and doubles wins. They’re successful partly due to determination and a strong will to win. They are a pleasure to coach and a joy to be around.” The Coach’s Awards go to Karen Adams and Jennifer Lea.

The final award is the MVP-Coach Williams says this about Marnie Greenblatt, “Marnie may only be a rookie in college tennis, but she is a pro at her mental approach to the game. She is the best freshman in the DIAC and is ranked as one of the top ten players in the region. Marnie is likely to be selected to the NCAA National Tournament. She would be the first post-season qualifier in the school’s history. Marnie is on her way to rewriting the record books at GC. She has over 20 wins this season, which is a school single-season record.” The MVP goes to Marnie Greenblatt. 

Congratulations to the Greensboro College women’s tennis team!

(Pause/Applause)

Would Michelle Lesperance, Chris Groh and Curt Mauger, please come forward. As they approach, allow me to take a moment to tell you about a change in the athletic training award presented here this evening. 

This is the first year the “class of the year” award will replace the "most valuable athletic trainer" award. 

Director of Athletic Training Michelle Lesperance explains: “We decided to change this award to promote teamwork within our 4 classes. This new award is given to the class that is the most dedicated, carries the highest overall GPA, and has done its best overall in promoting athletic training at Greensboro College.”
Other changes in athletic training bode well for the program’s future. This year the education program was approved for its first step in accreditation. The athletic training lab is now fully equipped. And the athletic training room will be renovated—with a rehabilitation room added—this  summer. 

We would like to recognize the senior athletic trainers: Chrissy Bruce, Lindsey Merkl and Andrea Tunnecliff.  Andrea--or AT--in particular, has been a tremendous asset to us. She kept the Athletic Training Club alive, and always being available to help whenever we asked.  She will be missed very much. 

Before we move on to the class of the year award, let’s take a moment to acknowledge  all the GC student athletic trainers—for their commitment, long hours and effort put in throughout the school year. 

The individuals honored here tonight have dedicated countless hours in what we affectionately call the "dungeon" and rarely complain about how much they have to do. They are ambitious, and always willing to learn new concepts. They work together as a team to accomplish whatever is asked.  It is our pleasure to announce that this year’s Athletic Training Class Award winner is the Sophomore Class. Congratulations to the athletic training class of 2003 and the entire athletic training staff!

At this time, I’d like to introduce Tammy Alt, director of first year programs at Greensboro College. Would Tammy and the SAM award winner please come to the podium.

While only one student athlete is being recognized for this honor, everyone who participated in the student athlete mentor program should be congratulated. Helping incoming students adapt to the rigors of college life is an important factor that contributes positively to our athletic program at Greensboro College. 

Before we recognize our award winner, I’d like all of you who participated as student athlete mentors to please stand and be recognized.

The Student Athlete Mentor-or SAM-of the Year Award is being given for the first time to a student who exemplifies the qualities of a student-athlete mentor both on and off the field or court.  Within the newly created SAM program this year, criteria was established to assess each mentor.  That criteria included: meeting regularly with his or her group and spending quality time getting to know each person; attending weekly meetings and providing feedback to the program director regarding the progress of the first year student-athletes; and demonstrating personal growth through program participation. 

One of the first year student-athletes in the group had this to say about our honoree, “One thing I can say about John is that he was extremely helpful in getting me oriented to the college lifestyle, as well as preparing me for what I should expect in academics and athletics.”  This year’s winner of the Student Athlete Mentor of the Year Award goes to John Williams.

Thank you Tammy, and to all of those student athletes who participated in the SAM program.

(PAUSE/APPLAUSE)

And now, I’d like to welcome Bob Lowe, Greensboro College’s sports information director to the podium for our next award.

Thank you, Clay. Last year, Greensboro College Athletics began presenting a new award called the Power Pride Award. This new honor recognizes the “sixth man”—or the person who rallies Pride teams to victory. 

Students, faculty, staff, booster club members, or friends of Greensboro College are all eligible to be considered for the Power Pride honor.

This year’s sixth man is no stranger to Pride athletics, nor to high school athletics. In fact, he worked for most of his career in the Guilford County School system as an administrator and athletic director for the Greensboro City Schools. More recently, the Pride community has known him for his position as director of internships for Greensboro College.

Greensboro College President Dr. Craven E. Williams has this to say about our honoree:

"Lem Cox was an athlete whose skills placed him among a select few. He was a coach who could teach the mechanics and techniques of his sport, while motivating athletes to give their all. He understands the sacrifices athletics requires, the teamwork it demands, and the respect and camaraderie shared by athletes." 

Chances are good you’ve seen him at nearly every Greensboro College athletic event. Whether as a supporter or fan for any of GC’s 16 teams--or as captain of the “Chain Gang” for Pride football home games—it’s hard to find a more dedicated person to GC sports than Lem Cox.

Yet it’s not just to GC athletics of which Mr. Cox is so supportive. In a recent conversation with Mike Clark, Greensboro College’s special assistant to the President, Mr. Clark indicated that whatever the Greensboro College occasion—whether it be music, ambassadors, academic, or a student life function, Lem Cox would be there for support of the program and/or the students involved. I don’t know how he does it, but we recognize and appreciate everything he does for Greensboro College.

So, while this award is from Pride athletics in recognition of your support of our teams, I know there are many folks on campus who appreciate your dedication as well, Lem.
It is with pleasure that I present this year’s Power Pride Award to Lemuel Cox!
(Pause/Applause)
At this time, I turn the program back to Athletics Director Kim Strable as we near the end of our program.

Thank you, Bob and congratulations Mr. Cox. 

Two years ago, President Williams endowed an award within the athletic program that recognized outstanding student-athletes who combined athletics excellence with scholarship and service.  The award was named the CRAVEN E. WILLIAMS SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD.   The names of all honorees are engraved on a permanent plaque which is displayed in the lobby of Hanes Gymnasium.  Tonight’s recipients will have their names added to this plaque and receive a beautiful silver cup presented tonight by Dr. Daniel Keck.

Our honorees were selected by vote of the Athletic Department staff for their academic success, athletics accomplishments and contributions within their sport, and their involvement in the campus or Greater Greensboro communities.  They exemplify the ideal model of the scholar-athlete, outstanding students who also work outside of the box in making a difference through  interactions and involvement with their peers or in community service.  We are proud them both and grateful to Dr. Williams for making this award possible.

Our 2000-2001 male recipient of the Craven E. Williams Scholar-Athlete Award is BOB STEWART.  Please come forward Bob to join Dr. Keck on the platform as I share some of your accomplishments with the audience. Bob is a four-year member of the Pride baseball team, having served the past two seasons as a team captain.  He is the son of Robert and Donna Stewart of Blandon, PA. and is a senior Political Science major.  With a cumulative grade point average of 3.38, Bob has made the Dean’s List and the Athletic Director Honor Roll three times and is a two-time member of the Dixie Conference All-Academic Team. 

Besides such high honors as induction in Omicron Delta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha , and selection to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, Bob was voted Big Man on Campus this year, is President of the Senior Class, voted Resident Advisor of the Year, Club Officer of the Year, is Past President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and the list of other leadership roles simply goes on and on. 

His service to the College community is also noteworthy, having recreated and edited the Family Handbook, served as a student-athlete mentor coordinator, assisted in various tasks for the Student Development Office, and fulfilled an internship with the law firm of Hunter, Johnson, Benjamin, and Elam where among other things he processed Discovery for personal injury cases.  As a relief pitcher on the baseball team, Bob is the All-Time Career Appearance Leader, is the Career and Single Season Saves Leader, and helped his 1998 squad to the Dixie Conference title and first-ever NCAA national tournament appearance. As noted earlier, he was co-MVP for this year’s baseball squad.

There are few students in Greensboro College history who have packed as much into their college careers as Bob Stewart.  Dr. Keck now has the pleasure of presenting to Bob the 2000-2001 Craven E. Williams Student-Athlete Award.  Congratulations Bob!

Our female recipient of the 2000-2001 Craven E. Williams Scholar-Athlete Award is KAREN DUTTON-ADAMS.  Please join Dr. Keck on stage as I share a few of your career highlights.  This is Karen’s second selection for this award, and deservedly so.  She is a two-sport athlete, having played four years of volleyball and tennis.  She is the daughter of John and Patty Dutton of Elon College, NC and the wife of Caleb Adams. A senior Psychology major with a cumulative grade point average of 3.87, Karen has made the Dean’s List every semester and is also a three-time member of the Dixie Conference All-Academic team and the Greensboro College Athletic Director Honor Roll. 

As a volleyball player, Karen was a 1st Team All-Dixie Conference and DIAC All-Tournament player as a setter who led her team to a second consecutive conference co-championship this year.  She was also named to the Verison-CoSIDA Academic District III second team.  In tennis, she has been a 2nd team All-Dixie Conference player twice at #4 singles and once at #5 singles, twice at #3 and once at #1 doubles, and as a freshman was a conference champion at #5 singles.  As noted earlier, she received a Coaches Award for her recent efforts, and last Spring was named to the GTE/CoSIDA South Region All-America Spring “At Large” Team.

Karen’s involvement on campus has included being a student representative on the Institutional Planning Committee, is a Student Marshall, was inducted into Alpha Chi and the Psi Chi  honor societies and currently serves as president of Psi Chi, is a member of the Psychology Club where she serves as co-president, was an academic tutor for two years, and is the President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Similar to Bob, Karen has excelled in all areas while being one of the top students in her class and indeed exemplifies the true meaning of scholar-athlete.

Dr. Keck now has the pleasure of presenting to Karen the 2000-2001 Craven E. Williams Scholar-Athlete Award.  Congratulations Karen!

Before we present our final awards, I’d like to thank a few people who have helped make the athletics convocation special tonight. This is the second year we’ve committed to showing a high quality, professionally-edited video presentation to complement our awards and share a few memories from this year in sports, which was largely due to the work of first-year women’s soccer coach Doug Shank. He has spent countless hours filming, editing and creating a story based in pictures and images. Let’s give Coach Shank a big round of applause.
(Pause/Applause)

 I’d also like to thank Athletic Secretary Bunnie Montgomery for preparing the convocation program, and—along with Candi Ellis—serving as greeters this evening. Also, Assistant Athletic Director Jean Lojko was responsible for handling all awards preperation throughout the year. I am grateful for her work in this very large task.

Sports Information Director Bob Lowe deserves tremendous thanks for the monumental task of working with all of the GC coaches in preparing the script for tonight’s program. Please know how much we appreciate your efforts to add dignity and Pride to this special occasion.
 
And last—but certainly not least—let me say how truly grateful I am, and I know all of you are, for the support we receive from Assistant Director of Admissions Clay Alexander who serves as our VOICE OF THE PRIDE.  It is hard to find anyone on this campus more enthusiastic and or positive than Clay, and he brings us to a big-time level of professionalism with his public address work for Pride Athletics.  Please put your hands together for our incomparable emcee, Mr. Clay Alexander and the other folks I’ve mentioned!
You’ll note on the program that we are bidding farewell to some of our staff, so I’d like to have Scott Rash and Randy Hunt join Chris Groh here on the platform. 

For the past eight years, Dr. Randy Hunt has served as the Greensboro College Faculty-Athletics Representative, a position legislated by the NCAA.  While he often downplays his role as FAR and is not one to draw a lot of attention to himself, I can assure you that he is a real friend of Pride Athletics and an advocate for all of you with his colleagues on the Faculty.  What I perhaps appreciate most is that he trusts us to do our jobs and truly understands the difficulties you as student-athletes face in trying to achieve your many and varied goals.  He is stepping down in his capacity as Faculty Athletics Representative but will, I’m confident, continue to be one of our strongest advocates.  Please accept this small token of appreciation for your commitment and service to intercollegiate athletics at Greensboro College.

Next, Chris Groh came to Greensboro College in 1993 as the Head Athletic Trainer and was instrumental in breathing life into a program that nearly died on the vine.  His enthusiasm for and love of athletics has been evident as he’s been here for most of the transition from 8 sports to our current 16 sports.  He also had a significant role in initiating our drive to become a CAAHEP certified athletic training program.  Some of us old timers have shared in he and Nanci becoming proud parents of two lovely daughters, the oldest of which being far and away the most traumatized child ever at GC with encounters with our mascot, LEO.  Chris may be stepping away from full-time athletic training for a period of time as he pursues a teaching position with the Guilford County Schools, but we want to wish him well and present him with a small token of our appreciation  for his years of service and commitment to the Athletics program at Greensboro College.  Thanks Chris.

Our last farewell is to Head Baseball Coach Scott Rash, who came to GC in January of 1992  to build our baseball program from scratch.  In his 9-year stretch, his teams recorded 6 winning seasons, including a string of 5 consecutive 20-plus win seasons.  He was twice named Dixie Conference Coach of the Year, and led the 1998 team to GC’s first-ever Dixie Conference title and berth in the NCAA National Baseball Tournament. 

Along the way, he also served as an Admissions Counselor, Sports Information Director, Pride Fund Director, and this year has been an Assistant Director of Athletics for Marketing and Recruitment.  He and his wife Staci are proud parents of two boys, the oldest of which was runner-up to Chris Groh’s daughter in the LEO trauma department.  Scott leaves us to become the Assistant Director of Development for Athletics at his alma mater, Randolph-Macon College.  We wish him well and good fortune in his new career path and would like to present him with a token of our appreciation for his service and commitment to Greensboro College Pride Athletics.

Thank your attendance this evening, we hope you enjoyed the program. Have a safe trip home.