Coker Alum, Mark Sheftic, Set to Play in 91st PGA Championship

Courtesy of T.J. Auclair, Interactive Producer- PGA.com
7/28/2009

A NICE CONSOLATION PRIZE: Mark Sheftic, a PGA Teaching Professional at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., might have left the PGA Professional Narional Championship slightly disappointed.

Making his National Championship debut, Sheftic had a shot to win right up until the final hole. With a bogey on the 72nd hole for a 2-over 73, Sheftic fell into a tie for second, one shot behind the champion, Mike Small.

The defeat was much easier to swallow seeing as it still was more than enough to earn Sheftic a spot in the PGA Championship at Hazeltine.

"What can I say?" Sheftic said. "But it's a dream come true. It's very emotional because I know how hard it is to get there. It has given me much more confidence in my abilities as a player. I'm very proud to be part of the PGA Championship and looking forward to everything to come."

As excited as Sheftic is, he also knows he won't have a lot of time to prepare for playing on golf's grandest stage.

"My first duty is to teach the members at Merion," he said. "That will not change. I have a limited time to practice because of a very busy teaching schedule. I feel very blessed to be the teaching professional at Merion and I have responsibilities I have to look after. If that means earlier mornings and later nights to get my practice time in, that's what I will do. The Philadelphia Section provides a great tournament schedule to help me prepare. I'll try to play in all the tournaments leading up to the PGA."

All in all, it's safe to say that Sheftic can't wait for PGA Championship week to begin.

"The excitement is hard to express in words," he said. "The greatest satisfaction is knowing all the long hours and hard work has paid off. I'm looking forward to putting my game up with the best in the world and see how I fare."

Sheftic is a 1998 graduate of Coker College.

Coker Women's Basketball Signs Four

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
7/28/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker College head women's basketball coach, Carol Meegan, announced the signing of four players to National Letters of Intent to play basketball for the Lady Cobras in 2009-10 today.

Joining the Lady Cobras on the court will be Lucy Fish, Jaime Birr, Amanda Compton and Cassie Kirby.

Fish comes to Coker from across the Atlantic Ocean, as a native of Nottingham, England, where she was a standout player for the Nottingham Wildcats and the England's U18 National Team. Fish is no stranger to Coker, having player for Coker alum, Leanne Chandler, class of 2004. Lucy was a starter for most of the season for the Wildcats and was named England's team captain for the U18 National Team this summer competing in 2009 European Championships in Israel.

Birr is a native of Burnsville, Minn., where she was a three-time All-Conference selection at the Academy of Holy Angels. A two-time captain and four year letter winner, Birr was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2008-2009. At 6-1 Birr will add some much needed height to the Lady Cobras lineup.

Compton joins the Lady Cobras from Newark, Del., where she was a standout player at Elkton Christian. A 6-3 post player, Compton was named All-Conference in 2009, while scoring 856 points with 951 rebounds in her career. Off the court Amanda is a member of the National Honor Society.

Kirby comes to Coker from Charlottesville, Va., where she was a five-time basketball letter winner at The Miller School of Albemarle. A National Honor Society member and Honor Roll student, Kirby was named to the All-Central Va. Team, was a Second Team Virginia Independent School Blue Ridge Conference selection and was named to the Daily Progress All-Tournament Team. Cassie averaged 10 points, six rebounds and seven assists per game in 2009.

Coach Meegan and the Lady Cobras open the 2009-10 season on November 15, when they host the UNC-Pembroke Braves at 3:00 p.m. in the Timberlake-Lawton Gymnasium. This season the Lady Cobras will be looking to improve on their 11-17 record last season, their best record under Coach Carol Meegan.

Lynch and Ammons Shine at SCBL All-Star Game

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
7/14/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Trey Lynch and Matt Ammons represented Coker College extremely well over the weekend, as the two raising seniors on the Cobra baseball team played in the 2009 Southern Collegiate Baseball League (SCBL) All-Star game at Russell C. King Field at Wofford College.

Both players played for the South All-Star team representing the Carolina Chaos in the game and both players were instrumental in the South's 13-6 win over the North team.

Lynch (Florence, SC) was the leading hitter in the game, going 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Ammons (Chester, SC) was 1-for-2. Lynch was the starting right fielder for the South, while Ammons was the starting second baseman.

Lynch and Ammons, along with fellow Coker teammates; Jonathan Gainey (Hartsville, SC) and Brian Luchsinger (Farmingville, NY) will now prepare for their final weeks of the SCBL season. The final regular season game is on July 21, with the top six teams advancing to the SCBL Championship Tournament.

Coker's Gillam Wins Two-Man Tourney

Courtesy of Jim Lane, Altoona Mirror
7/14/2009

TYRONE, Pa. - The Sinking Valley Country Club Two-Man Invitational is special to Jimmy Gillam and John Handrigan, and not just because they've won the championship two years in a row and four times overall.

Gillam's father, the late Jimmy Gillam Sr., was the club pro at Sinking Valley and Handrigan was his assistant at SV for awhile.

"It's special because I grew up around here," young Gillam said of Sinking Valley. "I was always around for the two-ball. I used to work it as a little kid, so I have a lot of memories over the years here, and it's always been fun."

Now 21, the former Tyrone High School standout now lives in Altoona and will be a senior at Coker College in Hartsville, S.C.

Handrigan, now golf coach at Queens College in Charlotte, N.C., has known young Gillam a long time.

"I worked for his father here at Sinking Valley, and he took me in like a son," Handrigan said. "I met Jimmy through him, so we had a close relationship. Then I recruited him to Coker College, where I was coaching at the time.

"To be honest, the memories [of this tourney] are of Jimmy's dad," Handrigan said. "When I come here, it's his tournament because he was here so long, so it's an honor to win this one. It's the biggest tournament for us because of his father."

The Gillam-Handrigan duo won the 41st annual event by shooting best-ball rounds of 68, 61 and 64 over the weekend for a 193 total - four shots better than the runner-up team of Artie Fink and Bernie DeLoretto, who had rounds of 65, 69 and 63.

"Jimmy played really well [Saturday], and that put us in a commanding lead today," said Handrigan, 32, a native of Toronto, Canada. "We both played pretty solid today, making some birdies, but Jimmy putted really well. He made a lot of putts that made things a little easier for us."

The champs held off Fink and DeLoretto by sinking birdies on the last three holes Sunday.

"Jimmy birdied 16, I birdied 17, then he sunk about a 50-footer on 18," Handrigan said.

"Friday, we both played pretty lousy," Gillam said. "Yesterday, I played really well, and John was there when I needed him.

"Today, it was sort of the same deal. Even though we shot 3-under, we struggled on the front nine, but we played well on the back nine. We birdied the last three, and that was a nice way to finish."

Gillam and Handrigan will team up again next weekend to defend their title at the Park Hills Two-Man. When Handrigan returns to North Carolina, Gillam and Artie Fink will be teammates for the Iron Masters and Summit events, which they won a year ago.

Is Gillam looking for a repeat of the four titles.

"My goal always is to win," he said.

Championship flight: 1. John Handrigan-Jimmy Gillam 193; 2. Artie Fink-Bernie DeLoretto 197; 3. Anthony DeGol-Jake Biltz 201; 4. Greg Ferguson-Jimmy Ferguson 205; 5. Ben DelBaggio III-Terry DelBaggio 207.

First flight: 1. Wally Clapper-Spencer Hinish 209; 2. Ryan DelBaggio-Chris Perry 211.

Second flight: 1. Bill Allen-Mike Raley 212; 2 (tie). Brian Dinges-Brian Hall and Ben Walters-Mike Rook 214.

Third flight: 1. Henry Marche-Jim Roseberry 214; 2. Kevin Quinn-Nick Filak 215.

Fourth flight: 1. Doug Hershey-Josh Gibson 226; 2. Dan England-Dave Wertz 227.

Fifth flight: 1. Dave Panasetti-Scott Meredith 231; 2. Ronald Long-Tim Yingling 232.

Sixth flight: 1. Rodney Marshall-Mike Luther 232; 2 (tie). John Sisto-T.J. Keith and John Gummo-Scott Gummo 233.

By Jim Lane
Altoona Mirror
sports@altoonamirror.com

Former Coker Soccer Player Passes Away

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
7/8/2009

Coker College lost a former Cobra over the weekend. Stephen Jones, class of 1987, passed away on Saturday, June 29, at the age of 44 after a bout with cancer.

"Stephen was a great person, teammate and friend," said Tim Griggs Coker's Director of Athletics and former Coker soccer coach. "He was always up-beat, always having a good time and he was a heck of a goalkeeper."

One of the best goalkeepers in Coker history, Jones played for the Cobras for four years under Griggs. The Opelika, Ala. native earned his Master's degree in Physical Education from The Citadel, where he also served as a graduate assistant coach for two years and then interim head coach before he made a name for himself as the Head Coach at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson, Tenn.

Jones compiled a 59-60-10 record while coaching the Eagles from 1990-97. He was named South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year in just his second season in 1991 after leading the Eagles to at 10-7-1 mark, which was the program's first-ever winning season.

"Stephen is a tremendous person and a great coach that will be greatly missed," said Griggs. "The thoughts and prayers of everyone from the Coker community go out to the Jones family."

In lieu of flowers, a gift may be given to Jones' medical fund. Make checks payable to Heritage Fellowship with "Jones Medical Fund" listed on the memo line and mail to Heritage Fellowship at 316 W. Old A.J. Hwy, Jefferson City, TN 37760.

4th Annual Taste of Coker Set for September 24

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
7/6/2009

The 4th Annual Taste of Coker date has been set! The Coker College Athletic Department will once again open their doors and their grills on Thursday, September 24, 2009. In just its fourth year in existence, the Taste of Coker has become a local favorite of the Hartsville and surrounding communities.

Last year more than 700 people turned out to sample the goodies of more than 35 local chefs, while participating in activities with Coker athletes, listening to music and watching some live entertainment from the Coker dance and cheerleading teams.

The fourth installment of the Taste of Coker promises to be just as exciting as the previous three, with more food, more fun and even more interactive entertainment planned for the whole family to enjoy.

Tickets to the 4th Annual Taste of Coker go on sale August 1, 2009, at the Coker Athletics Office. Business or individuals interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Christian Stryker at 843-383-8068 or cstryker@coker.edu. For all other information on the 4th Annual Taste of Coker contact the Coker Athletics Office at 843-383-8073.

Coker Women's Soccer Adds Four for 2009

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
7/1/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker College Head Women's Soccer Coach announced the signing of four players to National Letters of Intent to play soccer for the Lady Cobras in the fall of 2009 today. Morgan Hartline, Sarah Kinsey, Jill Giguere and Sarah Rountree will all wear Coker blue and gold starting in August, with the hope of taking the Lady Cobras back to the top of the Conference Carolinas standings.

Hartline is a native of Columbia, S.C., where she was a standout performer at Dutch Fork High School. A forward, Hartline joins fellow Lady Cobras Bridget Clark and Amanda McPhail who also attended Dutch Fork High School. According to Coach Grass, "Morgan distributes the ball very well, but looks to put the ball in the back of the net."

Kinsey joins the Lady Cobras from Windermere, Florida, where she attended West Orange High School. A three-time letter winner, Kinsey was a Second Team Metro Conference Forward in 2009 and was named the 2009 Offensive Player of the Year. Off the field she graduated with honors, while taking accelerated college courses and was a four-year member of the A/B Honor Roll. When asked about Kinsey joining the Lady Cobras Coach Grass said, "She gets herself in the right place to capitalize on goals, but also finding the holes for others to score."

Giguere comes to Coker from Myrtle Beach, S.C., where she was a four-time MVP for Socastee High School. A forward/midfielder, Giguere was a two-time Toast to the Coast selection, three-time All-Region selection, was a All-State nominee and was the team high scorer for five years. "Jill will be competitive at both the midfield and forward positions," said Coach Grass. "She will keep others on their toes with her subtle moves and seamless passes."

Rountree is another native of Florida, joining the Lady Cobras from Plantation, Florida, where she was a three sport standout at Archbishop McCarthy High School. The two-time Archbishop Female Athlete of the Year, was also named All-County in soccer, softball and golf, while receiving Academic Second Honors for four years and she was a member of the National Honor Society. "Rountree has a nose for tracking down attacking players and denying them goals," said Coach Grass about the defender. In addition to playing soccer for the Lady Cobras, Rountree will also take the field as a Coker Softball player in the spring, making her one of just a handful of two sport athletes at Coker.

With the addition of these four young ladies and the return of 13 players from last season, Coach Grass and the Lady Cobras will be looking to improve last season's record. The Coker women open their 2009 season on August 27, when they host Newberry College at 5:30 p.m. on the Coker Soccer Field.

Coker Releases 2009 Cross Country Schedule

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
6/17/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - The Coker College Athletic Department released the 2009 schedule for the men's and women's cross country teams this week.

The Cobras are looking to have a successful season, in Coach Keith Solverson's first full year. Solverson joined the Cobras after their first meet of the season last year. Coach Solverson and the Cobras are looking to return to the top of the Conference Carolinas standings this season.

The road to the top will not be easy for Coach Solverson and the Cobra runners; they will compete in six meets throughout the southeast. They will open their 2009 season on August 28, when they travel to Columbia, S.C. for the Gamecock Invitational; a meet they have historically done well at, with the women winning the event in 2007 and placing third in 2008, while the men placed second in 2007.

After the Gamecock Invitational the cross country teams will head to North Carolina for a pair of meets; the UNC-Pembroke Invitational on September 5 and the NCAA Southeast Pre-Region Meet at Wingate University on September 12. Then the Cobras will have nearly a month off before competing in the South Carolina Intercollegiate State Cross Country Championships on October 10, followed by the Conference Carolinas Championships on October 23.

To finish out their season the Cobra runners will compete in the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships at Wingate on November 7 and hopefully they will qualify to advance to the NCAA National Championships on November 21 in Evansville, Indiana.

Coach Solverson has high expectations for the 2009 season with the return of several runners from last season; including three runners on the men's team and seven on the women's team that include All-Conference performers Kendyl Seawright and Michael Murphy.

Cobra Golf Signs Two to National Letters of Intent

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
6/16/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker College Head Men's Golf Coach Tommy Baker announced the signing of two players to National Letters of Intent to play golf for the Cobras in 2009-2010 on Tuesday. Ben Conroy and Jake Murphy become the newest members of the Coker golf team.

"Both Ben and Jake are accomplished players, great students and will make an immediate impact on our golf program," said Coach Baker. "The coaching staff is really excited to have these young men wearing Coker blue and gold next fall."

Conroy is a native of Durham, Connecticut, where he was a standout golfer at Coginchaug Regional High School. Ben was a four-time All-Conference Golfer, a three-time Shoreline Conference Individual Tournament winner and a two-time All-State Golfer. Conroy was also a member of the honor roll and was named a Shoreline Conference Scholar Athlete.

When asked about Conroy joining the Cobras, Coach Baker said, "Ben is a very good player. He is a mature player as far as he controls his emotions well and he has had plenty of experience in big events. He's the type of player that has the potential to come in and make an impact right away both in the classroom and on the links."

Murphy also comes to Coker from the northeast; he is a native of Hamilton, New Jersey, where he was a standout golfer at Hamilton High School. Jake was the 2009 Mercer County Golf Tournament champion, where he shot a record setting 69, he was also the NJSIAA South/Central Group III champion, and the Group III state champion.

"Jake is a very solid player and has a very good makeup," said Coach Baker. "He is constantly working on his game and is extremely dedicated. His ability can be seen by his impressive performances in several top-tier junior tournaments. "

Conroy and Murphy have the privilege of joining a Coker team that finished the 2009 season 25th in the country in NCAA Division II Golf, was second in the Conference Carolinas Championship and had the Conference Golfer of the Year , Chris Marsh and Conference Coach of the Year, Baker. With everyone returning for the 2009-2010 season the future looks very bright for the Cobra golf program.

Coker Releases 2009 Volleyball Schedule

The Coker College Athletic Department released the 2009 schedule for the women's volleyball team this week.

The Lady Cobras are looking to bounce back after a difficult 2008 season. Coach Jon Stenman returns for his second year as the leader of the Coker volleyball program and he is hoping the addition of seven new faces to the roster, along with the return of six student-athletes from last season.

Coach Stenman and the Lady Cobras have a tough schedule ahead of them. Their schedule features 17 Conference Carolinas matches and 11 non-conference matches; including playing Fayetteville State in an October 2 Homecoming match. The schedule also features 12 home matches in Coker's Timberlake-Lawton Gymnasium.

The women open their 2009 season on the weekend of August 28-29, when they travel to Lenoir-Rhyne for a four match tournament. The Lady Cobras then travel to Limestone College for their opening Conference Carolinas match and a tournament on September 4-5, followed by road matches on September 8-9 at Mount Olive and Columbia College. The Lady Cobras will not play their first home match until September 15 when they host St. Andrews in a conference match.

Coker hosts three home matches on September 18-19, including a dual match with Belmont Abbey and Brevard College on the 19th, before they take to the road for a pair of matches at Anderson (Sept. 25) and Erskine (Sept. 26). In preparation for Homecoming the Lady Cobras return home with a match on September 29 against Barton and then on October 2 they will face Fayetteville State in their 2009 Homecoming match. Coker plays just one home match from October 5-20, when they host Queens on October 10, but a four match home stand at the end of the month makes up for the travel. The Lady Cobras will play St. Augustine's (Oct. 24), Mount Olive (Oct. 27), Anderson (Oct. 30) and Erskine (Oct. 31) in their longest home stand of the season.

The Lady Cobras will finish out their season the first week of November with their final home match on November 6 versus Pfeiffer squeezed between a pair of road matches against Barton (Nov. 3) and their final regular season match of the year against Queens (Nov. 7).

Coker Baseball Camp Starts Monday, June 15

The Coker College Athletic Department offers a wide variety of sports camps each summer and winter. Listed below is the most current information available for 2009 summer camps.

Follow each link to find dates, times, and costs for each camp. You will also be able to download PDF versions of camp brochures to fill out and mail/fax in. For more information on Coker Camps contact- Christian Stryker- SID, 843.383.8068 or cstryker@coker.edu.

Summer 2009 Baseball Camp- June 15-19- $65/player

2009 Coker College Skills and Drills Baseball Camp- June 15-19 9:30 a.m. - Noon daily.
Pitching and Hitting Camp for ages 6-17. Cost is $65/player for the week-long morning session.

Each player will receive a camp T-shirt and expert coaching and instruction for Coach Dave Schmotzer and his staff.

Each player should bring their own bat and glove to camp; all other equipment will be provided.

Contact Coach Dave Schmotzer at 843-383-8105 or dschmotzer@coker.edu for more information, or download and complete the registration form here: 2009 Baseball Camp Registration

Coker Releases 2009 Women's Soccer Schedule

The Coker College Athletic Department released the 2009 schedule for the women's soccer team this week.

The Lady Cobras are looking to have a good year, with the return of head coach Bethany Grass. In her second campaign as the leader of the Coker women, Coach Grass is looking to improve on last year's three win season.

Coach Grass and the Lady Cobras have a tough schedule ahead of them. Their schedule features 11 Conference Carolinas matches, six non-conference matches; including playing Southern Wesleyan in a October 3 Homecoming match. The women's schedule also features nine home matches at the Coker Soccer Field.

The women open their 2009 season on August 27, when they will host Newberry in a non-conference match. The Lady Cobras then travel to Chowan University for a game on August 30, before returning home for a three game set versus Wingate (Sept. 3), USC-Aiken (Sept. 15) and finally their Conference Carolinas opener on September 17 against Mount Olive.

Coach Grass and the Lady Cobras then play four conference matches (Erskine, Converse, Lees-McRae and Queens); three on the road, before they take on Southern Wesleyan in their 2009 Homecoming match on October 3.

The Lady Cobras play six of their final seven matches against conference opponents, with their final home match on Saturday, October 24 versus Anderson University and their final non-conference match on October 27 at Catawba. The Coker women's final regular season game of the season is on October 31 against St. Andrews Presbyterian College.

Coker Releases 2009 Men's Soccer Schedule

The Coker College Athletic Department released the 2009 schedule for the men's soccer team this week.

The men have an exciting season ahead of them, with first year head coach Paul Leese taking the helm of the Cobra men. Leese joins the Cobras after three seasons at Coastal Carolina University as the Chanticleers assistant coach.

Coach Leese and the Cobra men have a schedule that features nine Conference Carolinas matches, seven non-conference matches; including playing regional powers UNC-Pembroke and Francis Marion University, along with playing Southern Wesleyan in a October 3 Homecoming match. The Coker schedule also features seven home matches at the Coker Soccer Field.

The men open their 2009 season on August 27, when they will host UNC-Pembroke. Last season the Cobras defeated the Braves 2-1 for the first time in school history. The Cobras then take to the road for a four game stint, before returning home on September 12 to face Mount Olive College in their Conference Carolinas opener.

After traveling to Erskine College on September 19, the Cobras will return to Hartsville to face cross-town rival Francis Marion University on September 22. Coker then plays Lees-McRae College (Sept. 26) and Queens University (Sept. 30) in a pair of conference matches and they cap off the week with their 2009 Homecoming match versus Southern Wesleyan on October 3.

The Cobras final six matches are all versus conference opponents, with their final home match on Saturday, October 24 versus Anderson University and their final regular season match of the year on October 31 against St. Andrews Presbyterian College.

Coker Volleyball Inks Seven

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
5/11/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker College head women's volleyball coach, Jon Stenman, is pleased to announce the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play volleyball for the Lady Cobras in the fall of 2009.

This incoming class marks the first recruiting class for Coach Stenman, after he joined Coker in the summer of 2008. In his first season with the Lady Cobras, Stenman struggled a bit, having just four returning players and no time to recruit; he compiled a record of 3-27 on the year. He is hoping that with his first recruiting class he can right the ship and return Coker to the top of the Conference Carolinas standings.

All seven signees are incoming freshmen, with five from South Carolina, one from Ohio and one from Kentucky.

Kayla Hopper is a native of Newberry, S.C. where she attended Newberry High School. She was an All-State, All-Region and North South All-Star selection for volleyball, while receiving MVP honors and the Coaches Award. She is a member of the honor roll and is listed among Who's Who among All-American Scholars. Hopper will look to fill the libero spot for the Lady Cobras left by senior All-Conference performer Kelsey Carlson.

Jordan Hancock comes to Coker from Mt. Pleasant, S.C. where she was a standout player for Wando High School. A two-time letter winner, Hancock led her team to the South Carolina AAAA state playoffs two years in a row, while being named to the All-Low Country Team. She is an honor roll student and she plans to major in Exercise Science at Coker.

Abigail Frame, a native of Sylvania, Ohio, joins the Lady Cobras from Northview high School. Frame is a two-time letter winner, three-time Honorable Mention selection and the Northview Senior Athletic Award winner. A member of the National Honor Society, Abigail is also the president of the Early Childhood program at Northview and she plans on majoring in education while at Coker.

Brittany Bass is from Bethune, S.C. where she attended North Central High School. Bass was a team captain, two-time All-State selection, three-time All-Conference selection, a North South All-Star, and two-time team MVP. She also received All-Tournament honors at the Sumter Spike-Off, Indian Land Tournament, and Carolina Challenge and was named a Wendy's High School Heisman winner. In addition to her accomplishments on the court, she is a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club and she was a Palmetto Girls State delegate. Bass plans on majoring in Physical Education at Coker.

Lisa Ross joins the Lady Cobras from Bowling Green, Kentucky where she was a standout player for Warren Central High School. She was a three-time All-District selection, a four-time All-Tournament team selection and an All-Region selection. Lisa is a three-time team captain and was voted most athletic during her senior season. She is a Governors Scholar nominee, a Beta Club member, an honor roll student and a four-time Academic Athlete. Ross plans to major in Physical Education with a concentration in Sports Management during her time at Coker.

Molly Bookhart is a native of Orangeburg, S.C. where she attended Edisto High School. She was a member of the Palmetto State Champion 18's Power Team, was a two-time All-Star and three-time All-Region selection. She is also a member of the team that will attend the junior Olympic Nationals in July of 2009. In addition to athletic accomplishments, Bookhart is an honor roll student at Edisto.

April Griggs comes to Coker from nearby Bishopville, S.C. where she attended Robert E. Lee Academy. While at Robert E. Lee, Griggs was a two-time All-State selection and two-time All-Region selection. She was named South Carolina Independent Schools Association (SCISA) Player of the Year in 2007 and was an All-Star and All-Area selection in 2008.

"These seven girls have the chance to do something special during their stay here at Coker College," said Coach Stenman. "Jordan, Molly, Abby, April, Lisa and Brittany all come with the experience of playing multiple positions on the court. This flexibility will allow me to show the opposition multiple looks and offensive alignments. Backing them defensively will be Kayla, a five foot ball of energy in the back row. All seven of these ladies have the chance to step in and help the program immediately. It would not surprise me to see one or more of them getting significant playing time by the time the Conference Carolinas schedule begins."

Coach Stenman and the Lady Cobras will begin their 2009 season in August, with hopes of returning to the program's former glory at the top of the Conference Carolinas standings.

Coker Golf Finishes 11th at Regionals, Season Comes to an End

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
5/6/2009

Florence, Ala. - The Coker College Golf Team's season came to an end Wednesday, as the Cobras placed in a tie for 11th place at the 2009 Southeast/South Super Regional Tournament at the Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals Course. Coker shot a team score of 291 (+3) in the third and final round giving them a three round total of 891 (+27), tying them with the University of West Florida.

The University of West Alabama was the overall winner, with a three day total of 868 (+4), followed by Lynn University at 869 (+5) and Barry University at 874 (+10). Joining those three schools at the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championship will be Columbus State University and Georgia College and State University, while Barton College's Jonathan Burke and Florida Southern University's Brian Richey will advance as individuals.

Coker was led by freshman Jared Crane (Greenville, SC) as he fired a five under par 67 in the final round to finish in a tie for sixth place overall, while Chris Marsh (Georgetown, SC) shot a 74 (+2). Diego Polo (Guatemala City, Guatemala) and Jimmy Gillam (Tyrone, PA) each shot 75 (+3) in the final round, with John LaDow (Pottstown, PA) rounding out the Coker five with a 80 (+8).

Coach Tommy Baker and the Cobras had an outstanding year, placing in the top five in 9 of 11 tournaments, including taking championship honors at three tournaments (Coker Intercollegiate, Tusculum Invitational and Carolina Sands Intercollegiate). With his entire team returning next season, Coach Baker has a lot to look forward to in the future for the Coker Golf program.

Cobra Golf Drops Two Strokes, Improves to 14th in Second Round

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
5/5/2009

Florence, Ala. - The Coker Golf Team dropped two strokes in the second round of play at the 2009 Southeast/South Super Regional at the Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals Course on Tuesday. The Cobras shot a team total of 299 (+11), giving them a two day total of 600 (+24), placing them in 14th place.

Lynn University took the lead at 572 (-4), followed by Barry University and University of North Alabama at 576 (E) each. Fellow Conference Carolinas schools, Barton College and Belmont Abbey are placed tied for 6th (590, +14) and tied for 17th (607, +31) respectively.

Jared Crane (Greenville, SC) had the low round of the day for Coker, shooting a 73 (+1), followed by Diego Polo (Guatemala City, Guatemala) with a 74 (+2) and John LaDow (Pottstown, PA) with a 75 (+3). Chris Marsh (Georgetown, SC) had another tough day, shooting 77 (+5), with Jimmy Gillam (Tyrone, PA) shooting 84 (+12).

The Cobras will tee-off for the third and final round at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday. Fans can follow the action live on www.golfstat.com.

Visit cokercobras.com for the latest news and info on Coker College Athletics.

Cobra Golf 15th after Day One of Regional

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
5/5/2009

Florence, Ala. - Through the first round of play at the 2009 Southeast/South Super Regional Golf Tournament the Coker Golf Team is in 15th place, shooting a team total 301 (+13). Leading the field is host, University of North Alabama at 281 (-7), followed by Lynn University 285 (-3) and Barry University 288 (E).

Conference Carolinas champions Barton College are tied for ninth at 293 (+5), while fellow conference school, Belmont Abbey, is tied for 17th at 304 (+16).

Leading the Coker was John LaDow (Pottstown, PA) with a 73 (+1), followed by Jimmy Gillam (Tyrone, PA) and Jared Crane (Greenville, SC) each shot 75 (+3). Chris Marsh (Georgetown, SC) shot a 78 (+6), with Diego Polo shooting 79 (+7).

The Cobras will tee-off for the second round of the tournament at 1:00 p.m. Fans can follow all the action live on www.golfstat.com.

Coker Golf Set to Tee off at Southeast Regional

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
5/4/2009

Florence, Ala. - At approximately 10:00 a.m. Monday morning, the Coker College Golf Team will tee off in the first of three rounds at the 2009 Southeast Regional Golf Tournament at the Robert Trent Jones of the Shoals Fighting Joe Course in Florence, Alabama. Coker is looking to make their way back to the NCAA Division II National Championship for the first time since 2006.

The Cobras are part the 20-team Super Regional comprised of teams from the Southeast and South Regional tournaments, hosted by the University of North Alabama. Last year Coker finished just short of a National Championship bid, placing fifth in the regional tournament.

A total of eighty teams and 32 individuals were selected to participate in the four super regionals, in which two regions will meet and conduct regional tournaments. The regional tournaments will be paired as follows:

Atlantic and East, South and Southeast, Midwest and South Central and Central and West

The top five teams and the top two individuals not with a team from each regional (regardless of region) will advance to the finals The finals will be hosted by Western Washington University.

Coker is competing in what is considered the toughest region in the nation. A team from either the South or Southeast Region has won the last 15 straight Division II championships and 24 of the last 25.

The Cobras are fresh off a second place finish in the 2009 Conference Carolinas Tournament and have only placed below fifth in one of 10 tournaments this entire year.

Fans can follow all the regional action live via the internet with Golfstat Live Scoring, simply visit www.golfstat.com and click on the Southeast/South Regional.

Teams competing in each regional are as follows:

Southeast Region:
1. Columbus State
2. GC&SU
3. Clayton State [Peach Belt Conference]
4. South Carolina-Aiken
5. Lander
6. Coker
7. Barton [Conference Carolinas]
8. Newberry [South Atlantic Conference]
9. Belmont Abbey
10. Armstrong Atlantic

Individuals:
1. Jordan Walor, North Carolina-Pembroke 2. Chase Carroll, Tusculum 3. Scott Woodard, Mount Olive 4. Adam Sheriff, Anderson (South Carolina)

South Region:
1. Nova Southeastern [Sunshine State Conference]
2. Florida Southern
3. Lynn
4. Barry
5. North Alabama [Gulf South Conference]
6. West Florida
7. Valdosta State
8. Arkansas Tech
9. Rollins
10. Florida Tech

Individuals:
1. Cole Cisbani, St. Leo 2. Brandon Hartzell, Delta State 3. Ryan Chitwood, West Georgia 4. Mark McGuire, St. Leo

Coker Honors 2009 Athletic Acheivements

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
4/22/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - For the second year in a row, senior Shelly Catlett took home the biggest award of the night, while freshmen Brinley Griffin and Alyssa Blanchard received the second highest honors at the 2009 Coker College Athletic Awards Ceremony held Tuesday night in Coker's Watson Theater. Catlett was once again named the C.G. Timberlake Athlete of the Year Award, while Griffin and Blanchard each received Freshman of the Year honors.

Shelly Catlett is a native of Orangeburg, S.C., and has been a four year starting pitcher for the Lady Cobras Softball team. She was named the First Team All-Conference in 2009 and was named the Heritage Community Financial Services Athlete of the Month for April 2009. In 2008, she was named Conference Carolinas Softball Player of the Year, was First Team All-Conference selection and was named Second Team All-Region; while in 2007 she was named Second Team All-Conference, was an All-Region Selection and was named the MVP of the conference tournament. This season Catlett has a record of 15-11, with a 2.05 ERA and 164 strikeouts.

Off the field, Shelly is a Biology Major, a three-time Academic All-American, President of the Senior Class for 2008-09, President of the Coker College Science Club, a four-time member of the Dean's List and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa. After graduation she plans to attend the Medical University of South Carolina to study dentistry.

Brinley Griffin is a native of Port St. John, Fla., and he is the first baseball player to ever receive the Male Freshman of the Year award at Coker. Griffin was an All-Conference nominee, playing in all 42 games this season, a first for a true freshman at Coker since 1993. Griffin was a team leader in almost every offensive category this season including being fourth on the team in batting average (.335), first in doubles (9), second in hits (55), third in RBIs (22) and tied for the team lead in stolen bases (12).

Alyssa Blanchard is a native of Columbia, S.C. and a member of the Lady Cobras tennis team. She was named First Team All-Conference, the first ever such selection for a player under Coach Alvin Cheng, and was named the March 2009 Heritage Community Financial Services Athlete of the Month. Blanchard played No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles, posting a record of 10-2 in doubles and 9-3 in singles. She helped lead the Lady Cobras to their best finish under Coach Cheng, in the Conference Carolinas Regular Season (4th) and in the Conference Carolinas Tournament (5th).

In addition to the Athlete of the Year and the Freshmen of the Year awards, Coker also recognized award winners from each team, along with the Finalists for the C.G. Timberlake Athlete of the Year. Team MVP's from each team included Dennis Gonzalez for men's soccer, Kathryn Friedmann for women's soccer, Kelsey Carlson for volleyball, Michael Murphy for men's cross country, Kendyl Seawright for women's cross country, Nequita Bracey for cheerleading, Mason Ambler for men's basketball, Henna Koponen for women's basketball, Blanchard for women's tennis, Mark Vial for men's tennis, Kyle Walker for baseball, Catlett for softball and Chris Marsh for golf. Finalists for the Athlete of the Year were Jesse Hatchell (baseball), Ambler (men's basketball), Koponen (women's basketball), Carlson (volleyball), Lindsey Crighton (women's tennis), Shannon Townley (women's cross country) and Marsh (golf).

2009 Athletic Awards Photo Gallery

Coker Golf Finishes Second at Conference Championship, Marsh and Polo Make All-Tournament Team

Courtesy of Belmont Abbey Sports Information
4/21/2009

Clemmons, N.C. - The Barton men and the Pfeiffer women claimed the 2009 Conference Carolinas and women's golf championships, hosted by Belmont Abbey College at the Tanglewood Park Championship course. Barton won by two shots over Coker, while Pfeiffer won by nine shots over Belmont Abbey College. Belmont Abbey junior Carley Warrington and Limestone's Kyle Scruggs won the individual titles. Warring won by two strokes, while Scruggs posted a 216 to win by one shot.

The men's tournament was lengthened by two rain delays in the final two hours of competition. The final putt dropped at 7:25 p.m.

In the women's tournament, Pfeiffer won back-to-back titles after leading all 54 holes of competition, posting a final team score of 958 to defeat Belmont Abbey by nine strokes. Charlene
Reid led the Falcon efforts with a second place finish with a score of 234. Warrington won her second tournament of the spring with the two shot victory, edging Reid by two shots with a three-day score of 232. She carded rounds of 82, 73 and 77. Queens finished third with a score of 973, while Anderson (1002), Mount Olive (1054), Erskine (1125) and Limestone (1255) rounded out the field.

The men's tournament came down to the final group as Jonathan Burke posted a par on the final hole to clinch the title for the Bulldogs, which edged Coker by two shots. Barton posted a three-day score of 885, including a 298 today. Belmont Abbey finished third with a score of 890. Limestone (899), led by Scrugg's medalist-winning score of 216 finished fourth. Scruggs edged out Coker's Chris Marsh and Burke by one shot. Queens (903), Anderson (905), Pfeiffer (907), Mount Olive (910), St. Andrews Presbyterian (924), Erskine (937) and Lees-McRae (1141) rounded out the field.


Women's All-Tournament Team:
Carley Warrington, Belmont Abbey - Medalist/Trny MVP
Lina Elmstater, Pfeiffer
Brittany Beltran, Pfeiffer
Camilla Mallberg, Queens
Julia Wennerlund, Queens
Michele Low, Belmont Abbey
Rita Kim, Belmont Abbey
Hilary Armel, Queens
Kristin Moberg, Mount Olive
Sophie Dembroski, Anderson


Men's All-Tournament Team:
Kyle Scruggs, Limestone - Medalist/Tourney MVP
Chris Marsh, Coker
Jonathan Burke, Barton
Adam Sheriff, Anderson
Joe Campbell, Belmont Abbey
Thomas Muto Jr., Barton
Andrew Hodge, Queens
Pete Skirptas, Mount Olive
Daniel Castleberry, Barton
Peter Tarver-Jones, Belmont Abbey
Andrew Shiflet, Pfeiffer
Diego Polo, Coker

Women's Final Results

Men's Final Results