Patriot men cagers gain services of Shepherd transfer

Francis Marion University men’s basketball coach Gary Edwards has announced the addition of 6-6 junior forward Liki Turner, who is transferring from Shepherd College to FMU and will play for the Patriots this season.

Turner is a native of Richmond, Va., and was a two-sport (football and basketball) letterman at Benedictine High School. He averaged 10 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game as a senior, while teaming with University of North Carolina signee Ed Davis as Benedictine posted a 29-3 record and won the Virginia Independent Schools Division I championship.

At Shepherd, he earned WVIAC Freshman of the Year honors after averaging 14.6 ppg and 8.9 rpg during the 2007-08 campaign. He recorded 13 doubles-doubles.

This past year, he compiled averages of 14.3 ppg and 8.1 rpg while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 72.0 percent at the foul line. In his two seasons with the Rams, he tallied 823 points and 486 rebounds.

“Liki is a proven performer on the Division II level,” said Edwards. “He brings experience and an intensity to our front line. I expect him to contend for All-Conference honors in the Peach Belt just as he did in the WVIAC."

At Francis Marion, Turner will join previously announced newcomers 6-2 freshmen guard Evrik Gary of Camden and 5-11 junior guard Bryant Julious of Hemingway.

Francis Marion finished the 2008-09 season with a 16-12 record.

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.

FMU signs Aiken cross country runner

Francis Marion University cross country coach Mark Bluman has announced the signing of Justin Albertson of Aiken to a national letter of intent to attend FMU and run for the Patriot men this fall.

Albertson, 5-7, is a product of South Aiken High School, where he ran under the direction of coaches Russ Busbee and Bill Griswould.

A three-time All-Region cross country runner, he placed 24th at the 2008 AAA state cross country championship meet and eighth at the 2007 AAAA state meet. South Aiken was sixth in the team standings at the 2008 meet. He owns a personal-best time for 5,000-meters of 16:35.

On the track, he scored in both the 4x400-meter relay and the 4x800-meter relay at the 2009 AAA state meet as South Aiken tied for 13th in the team standings. He also competes in the 800-meters, where he has a personal-best time of 2:02.

“I really look forward to working with Justin this fall,” said Bluman. “He will be well prepared to handle the demands of competing at the next level. In recruiting Justin, it would always come back to his passion for the sport. Coach Busbee couldn't stress enough how much this young man loves to run and loves to compete. Every successful person in life has to have a passion for their trade.

“Justin comes from a great high school program as witnessed by South Aiken’s continued success in both track and cross country. Coach Busbee not only prepares his cross country runners to succeed at the high school level, but at the college level as well. Justin will succeed here.”
Francis Marion loses three seniors from its 2008 men’s squad that placed fifth at the Peach Belt Conference Championship Meet and recorded top five showings in each of its regular-season meets last fall.

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.