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 men's track & field student-athletes. Represented among these 27 student-athletes is:

• 40 SCAC All-Academic selections
• 2 USTFCCCA All-Academic honors
• 2 SCAC All-Sportsmanship selections
• 56 All-SCAC selections
• 1 SCAC Athlete-of-the-Meet
• 1 SCAC Track Athlete-of-the-Year
• 21 SCAC Championship titles
• 2 NCAA Championship qualfication performances
• 13 USTFCCCA All-Region selections

NOTE | If viewing from a mobile device, head shots are best viewed if device is flipped horizontal. 


Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Tori Dodd | My team got me through 5 exploratory reconstructive ankle surgeries & 3 fractures in college. I was told I’d never run again. But Coach Garcia found what surgeons could not, my teammates supported me, & Positive Strides contacted doctors for me. God is good—all the time. My buddies on the track team fully dedicated themselves to curing me, I couldn’t begin to describe everything they’ve done, and continue to do, for me. Their kindness and insights have been nothing short of extraordinary: they’ve always insisted I’m a valuable member of the team, whether I can run with them or not, and urged me to pursue creative solutions in order to take care of my ankle. Coach taught me perseverance; my peers taught me hope. Our track team really is a family. To be honest with you, I didn’t dare dream I would ever truly return to running, but God gave me the coach and the track family capable of making the impossible possible. They’ve held me up mentally, physically, spiritually—you name it—I’m forever grateful. In the future, I’ll be competing in races with a smile on my face. However, the moments I’ll remember from my collegiate career are the hardest ones: the moments I was on the couch at my house post-op and Coach Garcia, Coach G., and my teammates fixed my leg compression pumps for me; the moments I was offered a clipboard to write down everyone’s times in practice so I could participate; the moments I was crying and my teammates assured me we would be okay; the moments my coaches cheered for me in the first cross country season I was cleared to run in—last year. The distance track and cross country ’Roos squad is growing in size and bringing home more trophies every year, and I’m here to tell you, these runners have the heart and unity necessary to overcome any challenge—no matter the odds. 


Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Liza Huschle | Helping break the school record in the 4x400 meter relay freshman year with a first place finish. 




Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Catherine Carbeck | Getting to compete at the SCAC championships last year and us girls making clever posters for every member of our team the night before those last races.  

Rachel Seligson | My favorite memory as a SCAC student athlete was competing at the Southern Stampede Invitational in Missouri as a junior and beating my PR by almost 3 minutes in the 5k. It was very accomplishing and rewarding. 


Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Amber Harris | My favorite memory isn’t necessarily a single memory, but rather a cluster of memories. My favorite memories are the moments I spent with my teammates. My teammates were mentors, mentees, supporters, encouragers, brothers, sisters, and best friends. My fondest memory with them was when we had to stay on campus over spring break. We would get up early, and go to practice. We grabbed breakfast together, and spend the majority of the day together. That week, after grueling workouts, we would spend the rest of the day with hammocks at the river, playing volleyball in the sand courts, watching movies, and playing Just Dance in my apartment- a favorite game of the team that resulted in heated competitive battles and TONS of funny videos. At the end of the week, we cheered each other on at a meet. I will forever cherish my memories with my team: the endless laughs, game nights, dinners, study sessions, bus rides, silly videos, hotel shenanigans, dance parties, inside jokes, and, of course, track meets. I’ll even miss the hard workouts that we faced together because it served as a reminder that we never have to face anything difficult completely alone, both on and off the track. My team was all-in all the time, and they are my fondest memory. It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to them, but I find comfort in the fact that they are my family. With family, goodbye is only temporary, and I can’t wait to cheer them on again.

Amber Jones | My favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete is the team and coach I was blessed with. The bonds I made are ones I will cherish for the rest of my days. God blessed me with a coach who took a chance on me when she didn't have to. She believed in me more than I believed in myself at times, she pushed me to be the best that I could on and off the track. She helped me grow as a person more than she will ever know. My teammates brought pure joy to my life everyday in ways they have no idea. Everyday in practice they motivated and talked me through each practice which helped a lot coming off a back injury. You never knew what you were going to get from this group but they for sure kept me laughing every time I was with them and I think that's what I will miss most!  

Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Jalynn Ashley | My favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete would be breaking school records.

Hannah Bruce | Traveling to Gulf Shores last spring break. We were able to grow and bond as a team! 

Morgan Gilpin | I'd have to say that our first out-of-state track meet in Gulf Shores, Alabama, is my favorite career memory. The track program my freshman year, both culturally and athletically, did not compare to what it became by the end of my four years. I think it's safe to say that this trip was monumental in solidifying our new team chemistry and expectations. This trip brought both genders and all of our events group closer than any one of us could have ever imagined. I'll cherish these memories forever!

 
Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Jocee Bennett | Getting to compete with the team

Ashlee Hooks | Winning the 4x400m relay at the last second at conference in 2019! 

Ashley Rynard |
- Getting All American in the 2019 indoor track and field championships
- Getting a PR of 2:09 at the outdoor track and field championships in 2018!
- Our 4x4 getting 1st at conference last year (2019) and having Everyone yelling from the stands and from the feild!  


Favorite memory as a SCAC student-athlete:

Makenna Bentley | I have a lot of amazing memories with my team and coaches, but there is one that stands out from the rest. Our first and only meet this year was my last time competing on our home track for my senior year, and even though spring break started the next day I had all my friends sitting in the stands cheering me on. This meet I achieved my life long dream of jumping 5 feet 6 inches, a goal I set for myself as a high schooler. My favorite memory is the moment I knew I had cleared it because I looked over at my team and friends and saw everyone cheering, screaming, and jumping around. That mark could have got me a spot at nationals in May, this season could have been amazing, but as an athlete who has lost a big part of her I am trying not to focus on the what ifs but rather the hard work and dedication I gave to this sport. 

Androniki Defteraiou | Honestly too many to choose one. If I have to, I’d say I’ll definitely never forget getting 7 medals on our last SCAC Championship last year. But overall I’m just so glad that I’ve had such an amazing experience and so many great memories with my team.  

Theresa Feller | My favorite memory as a student-athlete is from the beginning of my senior year when our team decided to float the river all together. It was difficult coordinating everyone meeting up at the correct location both at the beginning of the river and the end, as well as finding a way to blow up a tube for every member on our team. But in the end, it was so much fun being together and spending time with the team. 

Amanda Gerlach | Stealing oranges from peoples trees with my teammates on easy training runs in the neighborhood. // Racing at the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Brianna Ratliff | My favorite thing about being a student-athlete was spending every day with my amazing teammates who I considered to be my family. One of my favorite memories is from competing at our home track meets when I got to see everyone come together to support one another. I loved that feeling of celebrating the success of my teammates. I'm grateful that I was able to run my last race as a student-athlete at Trinity on our home track surrounded by my Tiger family.

Laura Taylor | My favorite memory for track season is racing the 5k my sophomore year at conference. At the time, I did not know that would be the last track meet I would ever compete in and I was extremely frustrated with how I performed. However, looking back, I really should be proud of myself because, despite everything that was happening in my life, I still scored for the team. Additionally, I cannot describe how incredible it was to be on the podium with my teammates when we received our medals, as we swept 1st through 4th place in that race. I will forever be grateful for the support my teammates have given me throughout the years I have been at Trinity.


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