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April 16, 2006
Methodist
competes
for six
tournament
championships
in first
ever
Spring
Sports
Festival
BURLINGTON, NC- Methodist College entered the first ever USA South Spring Sports festival this past weekend in Burlington, North Carolina with the high hopes of going six for six. That is, winning conference tournament championships in all six spring sports- baseball, softball, lacrosse, men's golf, and men's and women's tennis- offered by the USA South
Conference.
The goal was a lofty one since the tournament is the pinnacle of conference play for the eight schools and therefore competition is at its best. In addition, the stakes are even higher in baseball, softball, and lacrosse as the tournament serves as the automatic qualifier for the national tournament.
As lofty
as the
goal was
it was
also a
realistic
one.
Methodist
sent
three
teams-
baseball,
softball,
and
women's
tennis-
to
As it turns out, Methodist took home two tournament championships- softball and men's golf- and a lifetime of memories.
The Spring Sports Festival was a huge hit for the USA South and the city of Burlington. For the first time in the history of the conference all championships were hosted by one city at the same time. An awards banquet on Thursday night gathered over seven hundred student-athletes to celebrate the USA South Conference, the student-athletes, and each schools successes this past spring. The weekend provided beautiful weather to compliment competition and sportsmanship that was truly championship caliber. Media, the fans, and the student-athletes were able to travel between the four sites of competition to witness each group of athletes competing on what will be for many, the biggest stage of their career.
The tournament portrayed what many fans already knew and some discovered- how awesome a spectacle Division III athletics can be.
Truly inspiring moments included Methodist's Keith Criscoe and Christopher Newport's Eddie Glidewell going toe to toe in the men's tennis #1 singles match. The two rivals would retire to their benches between games, exhausted by the intense heat, motivated by their desire to hold the championship trophy, and united by their mutual respect for one another and for the game of tennis. Both Methodist and CNU's golf teams shouted encouragement to their classmates before leaving early- not because they were disinterested- but because they had their own championship to attend to that afternoon across town.
Also memorable was the end of Friday nights baseball game which would decide who would play in Saturdays championship game. Methodist and Greensboro College played a memorable game filled with drama, great plays, and fierce competition. Press row agreed, sometime during the ninth inning, that while baseball may not always be the most exciting sport, you can't beat the drama of last inning heroics.
There may not have been a better example of team play and excitement than at the softball fields. Seven teams were geared up to beat the Monarchs and they did their best to do just that. However, the Monarchs showed what makes good teams great- teamwork. With enthusiastic players leading the fans in cheers and rally cries, the Monarchs called on a seldom used pitcher to bring the coveted tournament trophy back to Fayetteville. Junior Jessica Hutzul, a reserve pitcher most of the year, was named the tournaments most valuable player, shining when the lights were brightest.
For recaps of each tournament, please use the links below....
Softball Champions!
Men's Golf Champions!
Women's Tennis 2nd Place Finish
Men's Tennis 2nd Place Finish
Baseball 3rd Place Finish
Lacrosse 3rd Place Finish
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the
tournament
as the
#1 seed,
having
one
their
regular
season
conference
championships.
In
addition
to those three
favorites,
the
men's
golf
team,
currently
ranked
#2 in
the
nation,
was also
considered
a
favorite
to win
the
tournament
although
the
conference
does not
seed
golf
teams
nor
crown a
regular
season
champion.
Two
other
programs,
men's
tennis
and
lacrosse,
were
seeded
as
the
#2
and #3
seeds
in
their
tournaments
and both
considered
the USA
South
tournament
title
not only
a goal
but also
the plan
for the
weekend.