By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director
The competition is finished, but the accolades continue coming to Centenary competitors.
The Centenary Competitive Cheer team has been named Star Spirit Nationals Virtual Finale Champions for the College Game Day Division following its May 13 appearance in the Star Spirit Productions Nationals. The bid was awarded to the team’s game time routine that was performed in February in Baton Rouge.
Centenary earned three national runner-up finishes at the United Spirit Association Collegiate Championships in February in Anaheim, Calif. The Maroon and White, which earned two runner-ups and an additional third-place finish on Day 1 of the USA Collegiate Championships, competed in the college game day division where they were crowned national runner-up in the fight song and band chant division and brought home third place in the situational sideline division The team posted season and program-high scores in each routine earning a 94.9/100 in fight song, 96.4/100 in situational sideline, and 96.8/100 in band chant.
ALL SPORTS: Centenary Athletics held its annual end-of-the-year banquet recently at the Gold Dome, highlighted by the announcement of several prestigious individual awards. Centenary’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee planned the event and the spotlight was shined on the senior class but all student-athletes and coaching staffs were in attendance for the celebration.
Below is a complete list of the individual award winners:
Coach of the Year: Chris Dorsey, Men’s Basketball
Assistant Coach of the Year: Vincent Manuel, Men’s and Women’s Track & Field/XC
Female Athlete of the Year: Senior RF Mackenzie Cox – Softball
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year: Junior Emma Lavelle – Gymnastics
Men’s Athlete of the Year: Sophomore LHP Cody Myers – Baseball
Men’s Scholar Athlete of the Year: Senior Aiden Peterkin – Men’s Swimming
Female Newcomer of the Year: Freshman Hannah Waddell – Women’s Swimming
Male Newcomer of the Year: Junior F Jakobi Greenleaf – Men’s Basketball
Houla Award: Senior G Chrys Jackson – Men’s Basketball
SOFTBALL: Senior rightfielder Mackenzie Cox was named to the 2024 NFCA Division III All-Region team, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced.
Cox, named to the first team, was one of 376 student-athletes from 167 schools to make the all-region team. The awards honor student-athletes from the Association’s 10 regions with selection to one of three teams. NFCA member head coaches nominate and then vote for the winners in their respective region.
If they were not already voted to an All-Region squad, conference Players and Pitchers of the Year from member institutions are added to the third team in their region, so long as they are nominated by their member head coach and receive votes. All honorees move forward to be considered for selection for the three NFCA Division III All-America squads, which will be announced May 29 online and on-site at the NCAA Division III Finals banquet in Marshall, Texas.
Cox continued to receive awards following another stellar season for the Ladies in which she was named first-team All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, earned a spot on the SCAC All-Tournament Team, and was named SCAC Hitter of the Week once during the season. She is the first Centenary player to be named all-region since Anna Dunn was named to the West Region first team in 2018.
GOLF: Senior Andrew Bennett has been named to the NCAA Division III PING All-Region Team chosen by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
Bennett earned a spot on the Region VII Team. Players across seven regions earned all-region honors. Bennett was selected for the 2024 NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championships where he played one round before he was forced to withdraw due to illness. He is the first Centenary men’s golfer to be named all-region since Zander Winston in 2018.
Bennett, who claimed the individual title at last month’s SCAC Tournament, was one of six individuals selected to participate in the NCAA Championships. Bennett is the first Centenary men’s golfer to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the school’s Division III era (2013-present).
Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu
