UNCW Sports Recap
Harrison Palmer: Coorrespondent
Issue date: 5/17/07 Section: Web Only Content
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Benny Moss’ first season as the head coach of Seahawks men's basketball was something of a tough introduction into the CAA. After a marginal season, the Hawks finished with a tough loss to the Richmond Tigers in the first round of the 2007 CAA Tournament.
With the anticipated signing of Miami Dade College star Freddy Little and the return of star player T.J Carter, fresh off a season-ending injury, Moss believes that with the leadership Carter brings and the talent of the new recruits, success for the next season looks to be very promising.
Despite losing assistant coaches Kyle Snipes and Tali Robich, women's basketball head coach Ann Hancock remains optomistic for next season. The women's team faced a number of hurdles this season including the loss of senior guard Lori Drake, NCCSIA Second Team and Third Team All-CAA, and being plagued by a number of early season injuries.
Although the Seahawk volleyball season ended on a sour note, losing its last seven matches and senior outside hitter Liz Mitchell, head coach Jen McCall looks forward to next season with the signing of Rachael Caricato and Kelli Clear as well as returning player All-CAA Rookie recipient Paula McConnell.
The men’s golf team had a stellar season finishing fourth at the CAA Men’s Golf Championship. The ladies team made school history this year, winning their first ever CAA title, thus earning them an automatic spot in the NCAA Central Regional Tournament. The Lady Hawks will play May 10-12 and hope to reach the NCAA Finals, which will be played May 22-25.
On the tennis courts, the men and women both had exceptional seasons, earning fifth seeds in their conference tournaments respectively.
After only one year as the men’s head coach, Adam Carey resigned from the Hawks to become the director of tennis for the Andre Agassi Academy in Los Angeles. The men’s team finished their season with a loss to No. 4 seed Georgia State in the quarterfinals of this year’s CAA Men’s Tennis Championships, posting a 14-6 record overall. Next year, they will lose senior leaders Caio Piacentini and Dennis Myers to graduation.
Unfortunately, the women's tennis team saw the same fate. With losses to fourth-seeded Georgia State, they finished with a 17-13 overall record. Senior Cassie Martin, the only Lady Seahawk to get a win in singles during the conference tournament, will also be leaving the team due to graduation.
The men’s soccer team will lose Senior stars Rick Henderson, UNCW Chancellor’s Cup Award for Academic Excellence winner, All-CAA First Team goalkeeper Brad Knighton and Second Team All-CAA Chris Murry. The good news is that the team will gain some talent in freshman newcomer Allen Lomax, who signed his letter of intent to play at UNCW in the fall. Returning players, like Wilmington native and New Hanover High School star, Will Friesinger and ,CAA All-Rookie, Pedro Pereira will have to step up and fill the spots of the graduating seniors.
The Lady Hawks soccer team, however, set a record with 31 wins in a season and posted a school record second place finish in the CAA regular season standings. They will lose Nichole Smith, Jessica Stallings and Liz Chriss to graduation but will return star players Kelly Renkin and Jenny Cauble, both who were honored as First Team All-CAA and CAA All Rookie. Things look promising for next season with the return of Jamie Balzarini as well as signing Meagan Novak, Tandy Banks and Chelsea Godbout to committed their letter of intent.
The swimming and diving team of UNCW finished their season exceptionally well. On the men’s side, the team won their sixth straight conference championship with freshman Rob Anderson being named CAA Men’s Swimming Rookie of the Year.
For the Lady Hawks, Wilmington native swimmer Melissa Milsted was named CAA Women’s Swimming Scholar Athlete of the Year for the second straight year, and she was also awarded the UNCW Chancellor’s Cup for Academic Excellence this year.
The women’s cross country team received national academic honors while sophomore Ian Bracy finished 93rd overall and senior Ashley Jackson finished 126th. Bracy and Jackson were UNCW’s top two seniors. Jackson and Bracy are returning standouts for the cross country team.
Baseball and softball season are still in progress. The Lady Hawks will face the Hofstra Pride Tuesday in Hempsted, N.Y. The Hawks will be entering the game with a loss last Thursday against the ECU Pirates, 3-0.
The men’s baseball team posted a season-high five-game winning streak with a 14-5 win over Northeastern on Sunday. The Hawks will host NC State May 9 at 7 p.m. Baseball head coach, Mark Scalf earned his 500th career win during the latter part of the season.
The track and field team will be competing May 11, at the IC4A/ECAC Championships, and May 25, in the NCAA East Regionals. Unfortunately for the Hawks, next year they will lose senior Anna Rayor, one of the Nation’s top javelin throwers, who set 10 schoool records and was the recipient of the Thomas V. Moseley Award for being the top student athlete for 2006-07.
UNCW fans have a lot to look forward to for the 2007-08 season in sports. If all goes well, the Seahawks will succeed, whether it is on the courts, the fields, the course or on the track.
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