LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- For the next two weeks, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference will recognize and honor all of its senior spring sport student-athletes who had their final seasons cut short by the COVID-19 outbreak.
After the NCAA made the unprecedented decision on Thursday, March 12 to cancel all winter and spring championships due to the coronavirus pandemic, the SCAC Presidents Council decided to indefinitely suspend all regular season conference and non-conference competition.
"This was a heartbreaking decision we had to make," said SCAC Commissioner Dwayne Hanberry. "No one wanted it to come to this, but at the end of the day we are tasked with prioritizing the health and well-being of thousands of students and student-athletes on each of our campuses. That has to to be the focus above all else."
Although the league held out hope that by only suspeding play a window of opportunity may present itself for an abbreviated spring season with some form of tournament play the following month, with the virus continuing to spread throughout the country which has caused campuses who had originally hoped to remain open to close for the semester, the 2020 athletics season has effectively ended for over a thousand of the league's spring sport student-athletes along with the careers of 100+ seniors.
And even though some of the league's student-athletes may take advantage of a blanket waiver that would grant an additional season of participation, the SCAC office would like to honor and recognize all of its spring sport senior student athletes.
Today, the league turns the spotlight on its senior women's golf student-athletes. Represented among these 14 student-athletes is:
- 18 SCAC All-Academic selections
- 6 SCAC All-Sportsmanship selections
- 5 All-SCAC First Team selections
- 4 All-SCAC Second Team selections
- 1 SCAC Player-of-the-Year
- 1 SCAC Freshman-of-the-Year
- 2 SCAC Tournament Medalists
- 4 SCAC Championship titles
- 1 SCAC Elite 19 recipient
- 12 WGCA All-American Scholars
NOTE | If viewing from a mobile device, head shots are best viewed if device is flipped horizontal.
Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:
Shannon Orlopp | My favorite memories would have to be traveling across the country with my team, especially the trips to Las Vegas, Portland, and South Carolina.
Kristyn Peacock | My favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete is all the places I got to travel to and see while playing the sport I love! I have also loved getting to work with Coach Emlyn, having the opportunity to meet new people, and overall experiencing collegiate life as a NCAA athlete.
Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:
Morgen Gonzalez | Traveling with the team
Shundiin Kauffman | Traveling
Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:
Emily Campbell | One of my favorite memories for the team was winning the 2018 SCAC Conference Championship after defeating Trinity in a playoff. It was super intense and my teammate, Paige Greenan made a putt on the second playoff hole to secure the title for SU. Another favorite memory was winning the individual title at the 2019 SCAC Conference Championship. Exactly one year before at the 2018 Conference, I had herniated a disc in my spine and had to withdraw from the event. I worked all year just to be able to play again and it was amazing to be able to come back and win the event that I had withdrawn from the year before due to injury. It was also awesome to win 2019 SCAC Championship as a team to send off our three seniors Katie, Mikayla, and Valentina on top. Lastly, another favorite moment playing for SU was the special relationships I developed with our seven newcomers this year. I truly loved getting to be their mentor and help them learn the ropes as an SU golfer. I know that the SU Golf Program will continue to prosper because the girls are not only great golfers, but even better people. Overall though, the greatest part of being an SU golfer was the close friendships I developed with former and current SU golfers. If any SU golfer is reading this, know I will always remember our special times together and I love each one of you like family.
Leilani McDaniel | My favorite memory as a SCAC student athlete was the amazing relationship I made my teammate Emily Campbell and bringing home 2 conference championships alongside her. I am also extremely grateful for the life long friendships I made with my fellow seniors on the men’s team, Andrew Augustine, Cade Osgood, and John Kellum.
Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:
Summer Swift | One of my favorite memories is walking off the green to hug my mom, best friend, and coach, after winning a playoff for the 2018 Individual Conference Title. That tournament gave me reassurance that I was good enough to be on a collegiate team, and it sparked friendly relationships with my competitors. I am forever grateful for this conference and this team. Pups Up.
Upcoming |
| March 23, 2020 | Men's Golf |
| March 24, 2020 | Women's Golf |
| March 25, 2020 | Men's Lacrosse |
| March 26, 2020 | Women's Lacrosse |
| March 27, 2020 | Men's Tennis |
| March 30, 2020 | Women's Tennis |
| March 31, 2020 | Men's Track & Field |
| April 1, 2020 | Women's Track & Field |
| April 2, 2020 | Baseball |
| April 3, 2020 | Softball |
