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 tennis student-athletes. Represented among these 17 student-athletes is:
- 29 SCAC All-Academic selections
- 23 ITA Scholar Athletes
- 4 SCAC All-Sportsmanship selections
- 15 SCAC All-Tournament selections (singles play)
- 11 SCAC All-Tournament selections (doubles play)
- 14 All-SCAC First Team selections
- 2 SCAC Newcomer-of-the-Years
- 1 SCAC Player-of-the-Year
- 1 SCAC Elite 19 recipient
- 12 SCAC Championship titles
- 15 NCAA Tournament appearances (team and individual)
- 1 ITA All-American selection (singles play)
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Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:
Diana Carvajalino | Clinching the conference 3rd place in Colorado as an incoming (transfer) student.
Melody Duong | My favorite memories were going on spring break with my team to Portland, OR (2018) and Orlando, FL (2019). We got the chance to travel to different parts of the country to represent AC in playing other schools around the country and that was very cool! Spending time on court and relaxing and enjoying the time spent with my teammates was, and will always be, my best memories as a SCAC student-athlete.
Georgia Moore | Me and my doubles partner, Katie Siebert, beating trinity for the first time. Also, just the amazing friends I've made that will last a lifetime.
Katie Seibert | There are too many "favorite moments" to count. But every match feeling that support from my teammates and knowing I could rely on them for anything is something I won't forget.
Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:
Mary Cardone | Competing at a high level with some of the greatest teammates ever.
Cecile Wilde | My favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete was the opportunity to represent the women's team as captain. What drove my interest was the guidance and support given by the upperclassmen throughout my freshman and sophomore year. They emphasized the importance of culture within a team, and I wanted to build on the foundation of the program they created. It was a challenging transition for me, but I couldn't have done it without the help from my coaches and trust from my teammates. Every year is a new team, which means forming new relationships with the first-years and getting closer to the returners. Traveling with the team is always a fun experience, especially when we get to celebrate at Chili's or Olive Garden (The OG!). These experiences of growing closer to one another on and off the court are what made these four years so memorable. I cannot wait to see this program progress with the guidance from captain Alli Ziehm and wish nothing but great success to the women.
Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:
Madison Starr | My favorite trip we took was to conference my sophomore year to Colorado Springs, Colorado. My favorite part of the trip is when we went to Garden of the Gods. We got to walk around the park in our off time and take in the serene views.
Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:
Francesca Canjar | For my sophomore spring break we went to California where we competed well and had a lot of fun, including going to the Indian Wells tournament.
Ashley DeBauge | Beating Southwestern in championship match to win conference the past 3 years.
Mary Kaffen | I have so many great memories with my teammates but if I had to choose a favorite one it would be winning the ITA Regional doubles tournament with my twin sister and competing in nationals as All-Americans.
Zoë Kaffen | Winning the ITA regional doubles championship with my twin sister twice! And traveling across the country with my teammates for matches.
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 |
