Piedmont Athletic Communications

Three Peats, New Champions, Thrilling Moments: The Best of Spring 2024

By Joseph Garwood: Director of Athletic Communications

7/2/2024 12:30:00 PM

BEST OF SPRING 2024 IN PIEDMONT ATHLETICS

BY THE NUMBERS

1 - All-American (Erin Donovan, Women's Golf)

1 - Individual NCAA Championship Participant (Erin Donovan, Women's Golf)

1 - Jostens Trophy Finalist (Ryan Jolly, Men's Basketball)

2 - CCS Regular Season Championships (Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis)

2 - CCS Rookies of the Year (Charles Parnell, Men's Tennis; Alexandria Willis, Women's Basketball)

4 - Conference Players of the Year (Abbey Grace Venham, Women's Tennis; Brady McGuire and Johnny Matrona, Men's Lacrosse; Erin Donovan, Women's Golf)

5 - Conference Championships (Men's Swimming, Women's Swimming, Women's Tennis, Men's Golf, Men's Track & Field)

6 - Conference Coach of the Year Awards (Teddy Guyer, Men's and Women's Swimming; Matt Williams, Men's Tennis; Trey Martin, Women's Tennis; Tim Dunton, Men's Lacrosse; Jamie Jimison, Men's Track & Field)

9 - All-Region Selections

39 - CSC Academic All-District Selections

93 - All-Conference Selections

94 - Athletes of the Week

QUICK HITS

MEN'S BASKETBALL - Hosted first home postseason game since 2018, defeating Berea to advance to CCS Tournament Semifinals; Ryan Jolly earns All-Region honors and named a Jostens Trophy Finalist

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - Alexandria Willis named CCS Rookie of the Year; Knocked off previously undefeated in the conference Berea to close regular season in style

MEN'S SWIMMING - Independent South Swimming Conference Champions

WOMEN'S SWIMMING - Independent South Swimming Conference Champions for second straight season

MEN'S TENNIS - Undefeated CCS regular season and CCS Regular Season Championship; Won program record 19 matches; Matt Williams named CCS Coach of the Year for second straight season; Charles Parnell named CCS Rookie of the Year

WOMEN'S TENNIS - Won third straight conference tournament championship and second straight CCS Tournament Championship; Undefeated conference regular season and regular season championship for sixth straight season; Abbey Grace Venham and Trey Martin repeat as CCS Player and Coach of the Year

MEN'S GOLF - Overcame eight-shot deficit to win CCS Conference Tournament Championship

WOMEN'S GOLF - Erin Donovan named USA South Player of the Year, wins USA South Tournament Individual Title and makes the cut for a T-11th finish at the NCAA DIII Women's Championship

MEN'S LACROSSE - Program record 14 wins; Picked up first wins in program history against SAA foes Sewanee and Berry; Brady McGuire and Johnny Matrona named USA South Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year; Tim Dunton named USA South Coach of the Year for second time in three seasons

WOMEN'S LACROSSE - Reached double-digit wins and went 7-2 in USA South play; Defeated Southern Virginia for first time in program history

BASEBALL - Delivered 25-17 record and 12-6 in CCS; Three players named All-Region

SOFTBALL - Jasmine Lowery earns All-Conference honors for second year in a row

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD - Won second CCS Championship in a row

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD - Second place finish at CCS Championship; Nakiyah Washington named CCS Overall and Field Athlete of the Meet

CHEERLEADING - Fourth-place finish at NCA Nationals

THE TROPHIES

THE REPEAT

Piedmont Repeats as Overall and Men's CCS Commissioner's Cup Winnershttps://t.co/qOkidfKMCi
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) June 27, 2024

THE CELEBRATIONS

?????????????? ????????.

First home postseason win since 2008 and the Lions are moving on to the CCS semifinals! #d3hoops pic.twitter.com/CscfYa2jay
— Piedmont Basketball (@Lions_MBB) February 21, 2024

?? BRYCE WITH THE CLINCH ??

The senior wins a gritty three-setter to close it out for the Lions!!

Lions 5, Scots 2 pic.twitter.com/HcuoReCxeK
— Piedmont Men’s Tennis (@PiedmontMTennis) April 6, 2024

Nothing better than the celebration after a championship!@PiedmontUTennis should have it perfected by now ?? pic.twitter.com/LB7BqOj1A2
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) April 27, 2024

Hey Gugel, who are the CCS Men’s Golf Tournament Champions? ??@GolfLions posts a remarkable final round 285 to win by three strokes, overcoming an eight stroke deficit entering the final day! pic.twitter.com/EnQlOOBtVD
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) May 1, 2024

The champion treatment! ???? pic.twitter.com/A1cbZ6neqU
— Piedmont University Women's Golf (@PiedmontWGolf) April 24, 2024

Unauthorized use of any image from this photo gallery, subsequent galleries and any related website of Sean Meyers and/or Sean Meyers Photography is not permitted and is a violation of International copyright laws. For information or to license any image, please contact Sean Meyers at Sean@SeanMeyersPhotography.com..
Sean Meyers, Sean Meyers Photography, North Carolina, Charlotte, Winston Salem, Greensboro, South Carolina, Triad, photogator, photojournalist, documentary, photographer, experienced, professional, moments, candid, sponateous, newspaper, journalist, genuine, news, Event Photographer, events, commercial, shutterbug, photog, shooter

Piedmont University Athletics. (Photo: Mooreshots LLC)

THE VALUES

I think the thing that stood out most of all for me was seeing our "Values" lived out by our student-athletes throughout the course of the spring semester.

Jim Peeples, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

"Family." Watching men's and women's tennis support each other through the course of their season and at the championship. The same could be said of the Track & Field teams and how the support each other. The guys on the men's golf team showing up to support their teammates on the last day of the men's golf championship and encouraging them to a conference tournament championship. The four women on the women's golf team coming to Kentucky for the first two rounds to support Erin at the National Championship.

Always great to see the whole squad out in support ???? pic.twitter.com/JjEyMuagVu
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) May 21, 2024

"Selfless", watching our student-athletes during the PAL Games, serving the special needs children in our community.

Jim Peeples

"Excellence", our student-athletes achieved 3.35 overall GPA during the spring semester.

Jim Peeples

Piedmont University Announces Spring 2024 AD Honor Roll

THE SENIORS

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Men's Golf

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Track & Field

THE SETTING

THE STORIES

No One Fights Cancer Alone: Anna Lassiter Battles Leukemia with Support from @PiedmontUTennis Family https://t.co/BtB6irnkin
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) April 5, 2024

Despite being diagnosed with leukemia, Anna Lassiter of @piedmontutennis is looking ahead with hope and determination surrounded by the @piedmontlions community! ??https://t.co/ru8Piv2KmY pic.twitter.com/ynY8N35bpU
— NCAA (@NCAA) April 19, 2024

What Anna was going through, and the challenges of her illness were very significant. Her teammates were there with her every step of the way showing their love and support for Anna. That support took off on Social Media and many of the other teams during the season came and had ribbons on for the support of what Anna was going through. Our student-athletes make me so proud in how they can rally around one another in difficult times. The support that Anna received was just tremendous. I can't thank Trey Martin enough for the selfless way that he leads his team.

Jim Peeples

Pure joy! ??

The PAL Games at @PiedmontGA is always one of the best days of the year as our students partner with local elementary school students with special needs. #D3Week pic.twitter.com/ZfAEfnbEcJ
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) April 4, 2024

2023 NCAA Championship Look Back: A Week in Kentucky with the GolfLions

THE STANDOUTS