The Georgia Southern University Athletics Department announced institutional information pertaining to the Academic Progress Rate (APR) that will be released by the NCAA on May 6. Thirteen of Georgia Southern's 15 Division I sport programs surpassed the 925 benchmark standard.
How institutions calculate APR is as follows: each student-athlete on scholarship (full or partial) in every intercollegiate sport will account for four APR 'points' every year — two for the fall semester and two for the spring semester. One point is given for a student-athlete remaining academically eligible and the other point is given for continued enrollment in the respective institution. Each student-athlete can earn a maximum of four points.
Dividing the number of points earned by its student-athletes by the points possible and then multiplying by 1,000 will calculate a team's APR. The multi-year number is the average APR score of each sport from the past four academic years (the first four years since implementation of APR): 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Twelve of the 15 programs improved their APR from 2005-06 to 2006-07, including men's tennis which scored a perfect 1,000. The reason those three programs failed to improve on their numbers is because they scored a perfect 1,000 the previous academic year.
"I am very proud of the efforts of our coaches and student-athletes to address the NCAA's APR guidelines. Positive progress has been made but we must remain diligent in all our academic endeavors," said Director of Athletics Sam Baker. "We have worked to improve the academic resources available to our student-athletes and the results are showing. Our goal remains to provide our student-athletes with the ability to win a championship ring and earn a diploma."
Two sports took a contemporaneous penalty based on their team multi-year APR score. Football posted its highest single-year rate at 944, improving its multi-year rate by 15 points to 905. However, football had a reduction of 3.51 scholarships for the 2007-08 year. Golf (913 multi-year rate) was reduced by 0.33 scholarships for the 2007-08 year.
Keith Roughton, Associate Athletics Director in charge of Student-Athlete Services and NCAA Compliance, noted that academics have always been a priority, but since the implementation of APR he has seen first hand the increased commitment by coaches and student-athletes.
"While we are disappointed we are still taking APR penalties, those scholarship reductions, especially in football, have decreased in recent years. We feel our academic program continues to move in the right direction. An example would be football, men's basketball and baseball — three sports that have suffered a penalty in the past - posting their highest single-year APR score," said Roughton. "I am proud of the way our coaches and student-athletes are taking advantage of the improvements we have made in resources allocated to them. We are all encouraged by the direction our sports are moving. As we go forward with the rolling four year average we anticipate seeing increases in our multi-year scores."
Anthony named AOTW
SPARTANBURG, S.C. –The Southern Conference’s track & field coaches selected Demetrise Anthony of Georgia Southern as the women’s track and field Athlete of the Week.
Anthony, a sophomore from Manchester, Ga., placed third in the triple jump with a leap of 39-8 feet at the Davidson Irwin Belk Invitational. Anthony won the long jump with a jump of 19-5.75 feet, which was a personal best and ranks as the third best in the Southern Conference.
Anthony placed second in the 100-meters with a time of 12.02 and ran a leg of the first place 400-meter relay team that set a new meet record at 46.38.
Nine Eagles honored
Nine Georgia Southern University student-athletes were honored by the Southern Conference for academic excellence during the 2007-08 winter season. A total of 137 student-athletes from five sports and 11 institutions were honored by the Southern Conference.
The 137 student-athletes averaged a 3.56 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. This is the sixth consecutive year that the SoCon has named an All-Academic Team by season.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average entering the winter season and must have competed in at least one-half of their team’s competitions during the recently-concluded campaign.
Georgia Southern women’s basketball player Jessica Geiger (Stone Mountain, Ga.), posted a 4.0 grade point average during the 2007-08 winter season.
Listed below are Georgia Southern’s Honor Roll recipients by sport: Kenith Ward, Junior, Civil Engineering Technology (men’s basketball), Jessica Geiger, Sophomore, Pre-Marketing; Ashley Melson, Junior, Psychology (women’s basketball), Melanie Trumbo, Sophomore, Natural and Cultural Resource Management; Abby Bloom, Senior, Hotel & Restaurant Management, Demetrise Anthony, Sophomore, Pre-Business, Laura Fuller, Sophomore, Chemistry, Jessica Irizarry, Sophomore, International Trade, Shauntel Jennings, Junior, Exercise Science (women’s indoor track and field).
GSU softball heads to App
The Eagles head out on the road for their final road trip of the season to face Appalachian State this weekend.
The GSU (30-26, 9-6) offense has enjoyed a record-breaking season. Having already set new team records for RBI (241) and runs (274, tie) they sit at the top in batting average (.301), slugging percentage (.418), on base percentage (.360) and are two home runs shy of that record as well.
Several records fell Tuesday in the Eagles’ 23-1 win over Savannah State, including runs, hits (25), RBI (22) and doubles (6).
Individually, sophomore Jenny Side needs two RBI for the single-season GSU record and already holds the home run mark. She added to her totals Tuesday with her 12th roundtripper and five RBI.
The team ranks at the top of the SoCon stat charts in average, slugging percentage, runs, hits (461) and doubles (57).
In her last six games, junior Amanda Hall is batting a team-best .524 with a 1.048 slugging percentage. Six of her 11 hits have gone for extra bases, including three doubles, two homers and a triple. She has a hit in four of those six games, all multi-hit performances, and rapped out four hits against Savannah State.
Appalachian State (7-33, 5-8) has lost eight in a row heading into their doubleheader Thursday with North Carolina Central.
GSU track at SoCon championship
The Georgia Southern track and field team witnessed a first in school history a year ago, winning its first-ever Southern Conference track and field championship. The time has finally arrived as the Eagles have waited all season for this weekend’s SoCon Championships in Cullowhee, N.C. where they will get the chance to defend their crown.
On the women’s side, the first meet was held in 1987. Only four schools have won: Appalachian State (15), Western Carolina (4), Georgia Southern (1) and East Tennessee State (1).
Last seasons dream was turned into reality, but the Eagles know this year’s journey is going to be much more difficult. They also realize that it’s harder to stay on top then it is to get there and that this weekend at the SoCon Championships everyone will be out to get them.
This year’s squad has turned in a number of top performances, which is what makes Smith so amped up for this weekend’s meet. The Eagles have broken two school records this season under the second year coach. Earlier this season, Shauntel Jennings (Stone Mountain, Ga.) turned in a school best 2:16.76 in the 800m at the highly competitive Pepsi Florida Relays. This past weekend GSU senior Shamyria Ortiz (Newnan, Ga.) found the record books when she cleared a distance of 9’11.75 in the pole vault at the Irwin Belk Invitational.
Three Georgia Southern triple jumpers had NCAA Regional qualifying jumps at the Shamrock Invitational last month. GSU jumpers Lynndsey Hyter (Dallas, Texas), Shaunta Hamilton (Macon, Ga.) and Demetrise Anthony (Manchester, Ga.) finished first, second and third, respectively, at the meet hosted by Coastal Carolina. Hyter leaped 40-09.50 to earn the title, while Hamilton jumped 40-08.75 and Anthony recorded a mark of 40-07.75.
Hyter was tabbed as the Southern Conference Track & Field Athlete of the Week for her performance at the Shamrock Invitational, while Anthony earned the award after the Irwin Belk Invitational.
The jumpers have also enjoyed success in the long jump event. Hyter has placed first in two of the five meets with a top distance of 20.25 at the Irwin Belk Invitational. She has already qualified for the NCAA Regional meet. Hamilton had a first place finish at the CCU Invitational with a leap of 19-1.50, while Anthony has a top distance of 19-06 this season.
GSU ranks first, second and third in both the long and triple jump in the Southern Conference standings.
Sprinting and hurdling will also surely help the Eagles this weekend in Cullowhee. Anthony has the fourth best time (12.00) in the conference this season in the 100m, while Carla Ballard (Morrow, Ga.) ranks third in the 400m with a season best 56.60. Senior Amber Wilson (Calhoun, Ga.) ran a 14.76 in the 100m hurdles at the Pepsi Florida Relays, giving her the best time in the conference. Ballard and junior Kristin Olson (Senoia, Ga.) are first and second, respectively, with times of 1:01.21 and 1:03.83 in the 400m hurdles, while Wilson ranks fourth in the event.
The field events have been a key component and add a lot of depth to this year’s unit. Last year’s Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, Jessica Irizarry (Kennesaw, Ga.), ranks second in the conference in the javelin with a throw of 126-02, while Melanie Trumbo (Lilburn, Ga.) ranks fourth. Senior Jennifer Charles (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) has the top distance in the shot put with a mark of 44-07.
Georgia Southern’s relay teams have competed exceptionally well all season. The 1600m team of London Ryles (Decatur, Ga.), Jennings, Ashley Bush-Hardy (Fayetteville, Ga.) and Ballard moved into third place in the record books recording a time of 3:48.91 at the Irwin Belk Invitational. GSU’s 4x800m relay team posted one of the school’s best times led by Kellie Wesson (Douglasville, Ga.), Abby Bloom (Snellville, Ga.), Ballard and Jennings, earning a time of 9:22.58 at the Pepsi Florida Relays.
The 2008 Southern Conference men’s and women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held Saturday and Sunday at the at the Catamount Athletics Complex in Cullowhee, N.C. Western Carolina University will be the host institution for the event.
Screven sends three more to state
AUGUSTA — The Screven County boys’ track and field team finished third at the Region 3-AA meet Thursday, sending three more athletes to the state meet in the process.
Jeffrey Burns won the 3200-meters with a time of 10:45, Eugene Kirkland was second in the 800m with a 2:05 and Trent Roberts was second in the 300 hurdles with a 40.07.
Other Gamecocks to record points on the ay included: Desmond Anderson (3200m), Javon Thomas (400m, 1600m relay), Michael Johnson (100m, 400m relay), Cornelius Roberts (110m hurdles, 400m relay) and Travis Sampson (400m relay). Burns, Kirkland and Trent Roberts also earned points in the 1600m relay.
Swainsboro took first place with 129 points and Laney came in second (109). Southeast Bulloch finished fourth (68).
Hits and Mrs. bowling league
Results are in from the Hits and Mrs. Invitational Bowling League for the week of April 22.
In the women’s division, Debbie Sapp (200), Genevieve Kirkland (158) and Dot Wright and Debbie Hales (155) posted high scores in Scratch Games.
In Scratch Series, Wright (455), Evelyn Deal (434) and Hales (427) bowled top games.
In Handicap Games, Sapp (228), Peggy Motes (216) and Deal (215) were tops in the league.
In Handicap Series, Deal (617), Motes (590) and Hales (586) posted high scores.
In the men’s division, Charlie Wilson (219), Greg Annas (191) and Christian Kelley (187) posted top games in Scratch Games.
In Scratch Series, Wilson (530), Ray Beasley (500) and Annas (499) were best in the league.
In Handicap Games, Wilson (246), Kelley (227) and Annas (216) bowled top games.
In Handicap Series, Wilson (611), Beasley (602) and Annas (574) were tops in the league.
The league standings are as follows: Circle R Turf Farm (48 games won); Portal Strikers (44); The Splitters (33); Three Legged Dog (31); Statesboro Tire (31); Ryan Family Chiropractic (30); Larry Akins Insurance (27); Pizza Hut (26); One Short (26) and Harvest Lanes (24).
If you have a score to report, please call the Herald Sports Desk at (912) 489-9408.
How institutions calculate APR is as follows: each student-athlete on scholarship (full or partial) in every intercollegiate sport will account for four APR 'points' every year — two for the fall semester and two for the spring semester. One point is given for a student-athlete remaining academically eligible and the other point is given for continued enrollment in the respective institution. Each student-athlete can earn a maximum of four points.
Dividing the number of points earned by its student-athletes by the points possible and then multiplying by 1,000 will calculate a team's APR. The multi-year number is the average APR score of each sport from the past four academic years (the first four years since implementation of APR): 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Twelve of the 15 programs improved their APR from 2005-06 to 2006-07, including men's tennis which scored a perfect 1,000. The reason those three programs failed to improve on their numbers is because they scored a perfect 1,000 the previous academic year.
"I am very proud of the efforts of our coaches and student-athletes to address the NCAA's APR guidelines. Positive progress has been made but we must remain diligent in all our academic endeavors," said Director of Athletics Sam Baker. "We have worked to improve the academic resources available to our student-athletes and the results are showing. Our goal remains to provide our student-athletes with the ability to win a championship ring and earn a diploma."
Two sports took a contemporaneous penalty based on their team multi-year APR score. Football posted its highest single-year rate at 944, improving its multi-year rate by 15 points to 905. However, football had a reduction of 3.51 scholarships for the 2007-08 year. Golf (913 multi-year rate) was reduced by 0.33 scholarships for the 2007-08 year.
Keith Roughton, Associate Athletics Director in charge of Student-Athlete Services and NCAA Compliance, noted that academics have always been a priority, but since the implementation of APR he has seen first hand the increased commitment by coaches and student-athletes.
"While we are disappointed we are still taking APR penalties, those scholarship reductions, especially in football, have decreased in recent years. We feel our academic program continues to move in the right direction. An example would be football, men's basketball and baseball — three sports that have suffered a penalty in the past - posting their highest single-year APR score," said Roughton. "I am proud of the way our coaches and student-athletes are taking advantage of the improvements we have made in resources allocated to them. We are all encouraged by the direction our sports are moving. As we go forward with the rolling four year average we anticipate seeing increases in our multi-year scores."
Anthony named AOTW
SPARTANBURG, S.C. –The Southern Conference’s track & field coaches selected Demetrise Anthony of Georgia Southern as the women’s track and field Athlete of the Week.
Anthony, a sophomore from Manchester, Ga., placed third in the triple jump with a leap of 39-8 feet at the Davidson Irwin Belk Invitational. Anthony won the long jump with a jump of 19-5.75 feet, which was a personal best and ranks as the third best in the Southern Conference.
Anthony placed second in the 100-meters with a time of 12.02 and ran a leg of the first place 400-meter relay team that set a new meet record at 46.38.
Nine Eagles honored
Nine Georgia Southern University student-athletes were honored by the Southern Conference for academic excellence during the 2007-08 winter season. A total of 137 student-athletes from five sports and 11 institutions were honored by the Southern Conference.
The 137 student-athletes averaged a 3.56 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. This is the sixth consecutive year that the SoCon has named an All-Academic Team by season.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average entering the winter season and must have competed in at least one-half of their team’s competitions during the recently-concluded campaign.
Georgia Southern women’s basketball player Jessica Geiger (Stone Mountain, Ga.), posted a 4.0 grade point average during the 2007-08 winter season.
Listed below are Georgia Southern’s Honor Roll recipients by sport: Kenith Ward, Junior, Civil Engineering Technology (men’s basketball), Jessica Geiger, Sophomore, Pre-Marketing; Ashley Melson, Junior, Psychology (women’s basketball), Melanie Trumbo, Sophomore, Natural and Cultural Resource Management; Abby Bloom, Senior, Hotel & Restaurant Management, Demetrise Anthony, Sophomore, Pre-Business, Laura Fuller, Sophomore, Chemistry, Jessica Irizarry, Sophomore, International Trade, Shauntel Jennings, Junior, Exercise Science (women’s indoor track and field).
GSU softball heads to App
The Eagles head out on the road for their final road trip of the season to face Appalachian State this weekend.
The GSU (30-26, 9-6) offense has enjoyed a record-breaking season. Having already set new team records for RBI (241) and runs (274, tie) they sit at the top in batting average (.301), slugging percentage (.418), on base percentage (.360) and are two home runs shy of that record as well.
Several records fell Tuesday in the Eagles’ 23-1 win over Savannah State, including runs, hits (25), RBI (22) and doubles (6).
Individually, sophomore Jenny Side needs two RBI for the single-season GSU record and already holds the home run mark. She added to her totals Tuesday with her 12th roundtripper and five RBI.
The team ranks at the top of the SoCon stat charts in average, slugging percentage, runs, hits (461) and doubles (57).
In her last six games, junior Amanda Hall is batting a team-best .524 with a 1.048 slugging percentage. Six of her 11 hits have gone for extra bases, including three doubles, two homers and a triple. She has a hit in four of those six games, all multi-hit performances, and rapped out four hits against Savannah State.
Appalachian State (7-33, 5-8) has lost eight in a row heading into their doubleheader Thursday with North Carolina Central.
GSU track at SoCon championship
The Georgia Southern track and field team witnessed a first in school history a year ago, winning its first-ever Southern Conference track and field championship. The time has finally arrived as the Eagles have waited all season for this weekend’s SoCon Championships in Cullowhee, N.C. where they will get the chance to defend their crown.
On the women’s side, the first meet was held in 1987. Only four schools have won: Appalachian State (15), Western Carolina (4), Georgia Southern (1) and East Tennessee State (1).
Last seasons dream was turned into reality, but the Eagles know this year’s journey is going to be much more difficult. They also realize that it’s harder to stay on top then it is to get there and that this weekend at the SoCon Championships everyone will be out to get them.
This year’s squad has turned in a number of top performances, which is what makes Smith so amped up for this weekend’s meet. The Eagles have broken two school records this season under the second year coach. Earlier this season, Shauntel Jennings (Stone Mountain, Ga.) turned in a school best 2:16.76 in the 800m at the highly competitive Pepsi Florida Relays. This past weekend GSU senior Shamyria Ortiz (Newnan, Ga.) found the record books when she cleared a distance of 9’11.75 in the pole vault at the Irwin Belk Invitational.
Three Georgia Southern triple jumpers had NCAA Regional qualifying jumps at the Shamrock Invitational last month. GSU jumpers Lynndsey Hyter (Dallas, Texas), Shaunta Hamilton (Macon, Ga.) and Demetrise Anthony (Manchester, Ga.) finished first, second and third, respectively, at the meet hosted by Coastal Carolina. Hyter leaped 40-09.50 to earn the title, while Hamilton jumped 40-08.75 and Anthony recorded a mark of 40-07.75.
Hyter was tabbed as the Southern Conference Track & Field Athlete of the Week for her performance at the Shamrock Invitational, while Anthony earned the award after the Irwin Belk Invitational.
The jumpers have also enjoyed success in the long jump event. Hyter has placed first in two of the five meets with a top distance of 20.25 at the Irwin Belk Invitational. She has already qualified for the NCAA Regional meet. Hamilton had a first place finish at the CCU Invitational with a leap of 19-1.50, while Anthony has a top distance of 19-06 this season.
GSU ranks first, second and third in both the long and triple jump in the Southern Conference standings.
Sprinting and hurdling will also surely help the Eagles this weekend in Cullowhee. Anthony has the fourth best time (12.00) in the conference this season in the 100m, while Carla Ballard (Morrow, Ga.) ranks third in the 400m with a season best 56.60. Senior Amber Wilson (Calhoun, Ga.) ran a 14.76 in the 100m hurdles at the Pepsi Florida Relays, giving her the best time in the conference. Ballard and junior Kristin Olson (Senoia, Ga.) are first and second, respectively, with times of 1:01.21 and 1:03.83 in the 400m hurdles, while Wilson ranks fourth in the event.
The field events have been a key component and add a lot of depth to this year’s unit. Last year’s Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, Jessica Irizarry (Kennesaw, Ga.), ranks second in the conference in the javelin with a throw of 126-02, while Melanie Trumbo (Lilburn, Ga.) ranks fourth. Senior Jennifer Charles (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) has the top distance in the shot put with a mark of 44-07.
Georgia Southern’s relay teams have competed exceptionally well all season. The 1600m team of London Ryles (Decatur, Ga.), Jennings, Ashley Bush-Hardy (Fayetteville, Ga.) and Ballard moved into third place in the record books recording a time of 3:48.91 at the Irwin Belk Invitational. GSU’s 4x800m relay team posted one of the school’s best times led by Kellie Wesson (Douglasville, Ga.), Abby Bloom (Snellville, Ga.), Ballard and Jennings, earning a time of 9:22.58 at the Pepsi Florida Relays.
The 2008 Southern Conference men’s and women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held Saturday and Sunday at the at the Catamount Athletics Complex in Cullowhee, N.C. Western Carolina University will be the host institution for the event.
Screven sends three more to state
AUGUSTA — The Screven County boys’ track and field team finished third at the Region 3-AA meet Thursday, sending three more athletes to the state meet in the process.
Jeffrey Burns won the 3200-meters with a time of 10:45, Eugene Kirkland was second in the 800m with a 2:05 and Trent Roberts was second in the 300 hurdles with a 40.07.
Other Gamecocks to record points on the ay included: Desmond Anderson (3200m), Javon Thomas (400m, 1600m relay), Michael Johnson (100m, 400m relay), Cornelius Roberts (110m hurdles, 400m relay) and Travis Sampson (400m relay). Burns, Kirkland and Trent Roberts also earned points in the 1600m relay.
Swainsboro took first place with 129 points and Laney came in second (109). Southeast Bulloch finished fourth (68).
Hits and Mrs. bowling league
Results are in from the Hits and Mrs. Invitational Bowling League for the week of April 22.
In the women’s division, Debbie Sapp (200), Genevieve Kirkland (158) and Dot Wright and Debbie Hales (155) posted high scores in Scratch Games.
In Scratch Series, Wright (455), Evelyn Deal (434) and Hales (427) bowled top games.
In Handicap Games, Sapp (228), Peggy Motes (216) and Deal (215) were tops in the league.
In Handicap Series, Deal (617), Motes (590) and Hales (586) posted high scores.
In the men’s division, Charlie Wilson (219), Greg Annas (191) and Christian Kelley (187) posted top games in Scratch Games.
In Scratch Series, Wilson (530), Ray Beasley (500) and Annas (499) were best in the league.
In Handicap Games, Wilson (246), Kelley (227) and Annas (216) bowled top games.
In Handicap Series, Wilson (611), Beasley (602) and Annas (574) were tops in the league.
The league standings are as follows: Circle R Turf Farm (48 games won); Portal Strikers (44); The Splitters (33); Three Legged Dog (31); Statesboro Tire (31); Ryan Family Chiropractic (30); Larry Akins Insurance (27); Pizza Hut (26); One Short (26) and Harvest Lanes (24).
If you have a score to report, please call the Herald Sports Desk at (912) 489-9408.