By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director

Honors continue to land on Kings Highway for Centenary student-athletes, while anticipation of the official return of football to the campus is building.

MEN’S GOLF:  Centenary senior Andrew Bennett has been named to the 2023-24 Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana Men’s College Golf team.

The LSWA announced Men’s and Women’s Golf All-Louisiana Teams on Wednesday, honoring LSU’s Connor Gaunt and Ingrid Lindblad as the men’s and women’s Players of the Year.

Bennett earned a spot on the first team, joined by three LSU players and one from Louisiana Tech, as he made the team for the first time in his career. Ten men were recognized, while five golfers made up the women’s All-Louisiana squad. 

A glance at Bennett’s award-winning season: 

• First Centenary men’s golfer to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the Gents’ NCAA Division III era (2013-present); 

• Named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Golfer of the Year after he claimed the individual title at the SCAC Championships in April; 

• One of six individuals selected to participate in the NCAA Division III Championships in May; 

• Named a 2024 Division III PING All-American by the Golf Coaches Association of America; 

• Named to the PING All-Region Team (Third Team); 

• First Centenary men’s golfer to be named an All-American since Hal Sutton in 1980; 

• Earned first-team All-SCAC honors this season, was named SCAC Men’s Golfer of the Week once, and claimed two individual wins, three top-five finishes, and a top-15 finish during the season; 

• He helped lead the Gents to a fourth-place team finish at the conference championships, which is their best at the event since finishing fourth in 2014. Bennett is the first Centenary golfer to be named All-Louisiana since former Gent Richard Polan earned Honorable-Mention honors in 2022.

The 2023-24 LSWA All-Louisiana Men’s and Women’s Golf teams were selected by a statewide vote of school sports information directors.

ACADEMICS:  Eight Centenary student-athletes were named to the 2024 Academic All-District® Men’s and Women’s At-Large teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, this week.

Senior Devan Martin of the men’s golf team and sophomore Kaylee Roberts of the women’s golf team were joined by six Centenary gymnasts – senior Kendall Huff, junior Emma Lavelle, senior Izzie Plaza, sophomore Sophie Schmitz, sophomore Olivia Stratmann, and senior Lacey Wedge, who each earned a spot on the prestigious team.

The 2024 Academic All-District® Men’s and Women’s At-Large teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes at-large honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Roberts earned a spot on the prestigious team for the first time in her career.

FOOTBALL:  A reminder that Centenary football tickets are on sale as the season opener is just over two months away. Visit www.gocentenary.com to purchase tickets.

The Gents, led by head coach and Shreveport native Byron Dawson, will play their first official NCAA season in over a half-century this fall. Centenary will face the Hendrix College Warriors at home on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. at Mayo Field in its season opener.

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu