Piedmont Athletic Communications

Defending Titles and Cutting Down Nets: The Best of Spring 2025

By Joseph Garwood: Director of Athletic Communications

6/3/2025 10:30:00 AM

BEST OF SPRING 2025 IN PIEDMONT ATHLETICS

BY THE NUMBERS

2 - NCAA Team Appearances (Women's Basketball, Men's Golf)

2 - NCAA Individual Qualifiers (Erin Donovan, Silas Goolsby)

2 - Team Regular Season Championships (Women's Basketball, Women's Tennis)

3 - All-Americans (Erin Donovan, WGCA; Silas Goolsby, USTFCCCA; Zeke Swartz, D3baseball & ABCA/Rawlings)

4 - Championships Defended (Women's Tennis, CCS Regular Season; Men's Swimming, ISSC Conference Meet; Men's Track & Field, CCS Conference; Men's Golf, CCS Conference Tournament)

5 - All-Region Performers (Erin Donovan, WGCA; Silas Goolsby, USTFCCCA; Andelin Hill, D3hoops; Braden Simms, ABCA/Rawlings; Zeke Swartz, D3baseball & ABCA/Rawlings)

5 - Team Postseason Championships (Men's Swimming, Women's Basketball, Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field, Men's Golf)

7 - Conference ‘Of the Year’ Awards (Andelin Hill, CCS Player of the Year; Zeke Swartz, CCS Pitcher of the Year; Ben Connelly, CCS Rookie of the Year; Allie Feltus, CCS Field Athlete of the Meet; Silas Goolsby, CCS Track Athlete of the Meet; Leandro Forero, ISSC Men's Swimmer of the Year; Erin Donovan, USA South Women's Golfer of the Year)

15 - Individual CCS Champions

45 - CSC Academic All-District Honorees

55 - Conference Athlete & Rookie of the Week Awards

63 - Home Wins

105 - All-Conference Performers

Repeating as conference champions is very challenging. It is also important to point out the level of commitment from our student-athletes to elevate their training, preparation, and ability to compete and their highest level. It is a tremendous cultural component of our department. The commitment to excellence.

Jim Peeples, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

QUICK HITS

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - Won a share of the CCS Regular Season Championship and won the CCS Tournament, defending its home court to earn an NCAA Tournament Appearance.

MEN'S BASKETBALL - Won the W&L Holiday Classic Tournament with 83-78 OT thriller win against host school Washington & Lee.

WOMEN'S SWIMMING - Took second place at the ISSC Conference Meet.

MEN'S SWIMMING - Won its second straight ISSC Conference Championship in dominant fashion; Leandro Forero named ISSC Men's Swimmer of the Year.

CHEERLEADING - Earned a runner-up finish at NCA Nationals.

MEN'S TENNIS - Defeated Covenant to reach the CCS Conference Tournament Final for the third straight season.

WOMEN'S TENNIS - Pushed regular season conference win streak to 49 and posted its seventh consecutive undefeated conference season and regular season conference championship.

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD - Three-peated as CCS Conference Champions; Silas Goolsby earned trip to NCAA Outdoor Nationals and was named Second Team All-American.

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD - Won CCS Conference Championship for second time in three seasons; Allie Feltus named CCS Field Athlete of the Meet.

MEN'S LACROSSE - Went 10-5 to post four consecutive double-digit win seasons; Tim Dunton named USA South Coach of the Year for third time in last four seasons.

WOMEN'S LACROSSE - Posted 13-6 overall record, 8-1 conference record and 7-2 home record; Aly Reece became program leader in assists while Merryn Bumpass took the top spot in goals scored.

SOFTBALL - Delivered a 15-3 home record and posted four wins over top-25 opponents.

BASEBALL - Went 27-15, its most wins since 2019; Zeke Swartz named CCS Pitcher of the Year and an All-American by D3baseball.com and ABCA/Rawlings.

MEN'S GOLF - Defended its CCS Title, defeating Huntingdon in a playoff; NCAA Tournament participant for fourth time in last five seasons.

WOMEN'S GOLF - Placed runner-up at the USA South Tournament; Erin Donovan repeated as USA South Golfer of the Year, WGCA All-American and NCAA Tournament Individual Participant.

THE TROPHIES

Men's Swimming

Women's Basketball

Our women's basketball program winning the regular season, winning the conference tournament and making the NCAA National Tournament was an amazing accomplishment.

Men's Track & Field

Women's Track & Field

Men's Golf

Cheerleading

MBB W&L Holiday Tournament Classic Champions

Men's Basketball

Women's Golf

THE COMMISSIONER'S CUP

CCS Overall & Women's Commissioner's Cup 2025

Piedmont Retains Overall CCS Commissioner's Cup, Takes Back Women's Commissioner's Cup

THE CELEBRATIONS

One win away from a ??@PiedmontWBB downs LaGrange 72-54 in the CCS semifinals Friday! pic.twitter.com/RsvY4M2orB
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) March 1, 2025

24 hours ago we cut down the nets in Cave Arena and 24 hours from now, we will know where we’ll be playing next! ?? pic.twitter.com/vVo580BwSi
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) March 2, 2025

We are so fortunate to have Coach Purdy here serving in the many roles she has within our athletic department but also the many different committees she serves on throughout the campus. I could not serve as the Director of Athletics without having her assist me with the leadership of our department. This season was a testament to dealing with and navigating through adversity. It was truly and amazing accomplishment.

Jim Peeples

“That’s a clinch on court 3!!”

Dannie Evans slams the door and @PiedmontUTennis remains at the top of the CCS ???? pic.twitter.com/55BadKY7ZW
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) April 5, 2025

Piedmont University Athletics. (Photo: Mooreshots LLC)

THE MOMENTS THAT MATTER

NCAA DIII Week: Piedmont Baseball Partners with Team IMPACT to Sign Newest Team Member James

Earlier this year, Piedmont Baseball partnered with Team IMPACT to sign its newest team member, James!

While James may be undersized for a D3 player, it’s the amount of heart & passion he exudes that makes him a perfect fit for Piedmont. #d3week

?? https://t.co/f6BVu4frkh pic.twitter.com/VzIfeliRV1
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) April 8, 2025

NCAA DIII Week: Piedmont Hosts PAL Games for Local Elementary Schools

“It makes Piedmont an amazing environment.”

“Everybody coming together to help these kids and have an amazing day, it’s great to see!”

-Nathan Jacome, @PiedmontMSOC pic.twitter.com/RRQKTxX7P6
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) April 7, 2025

“The best part of the day is seeing how big my pal’s heart is.”

“Just seeing how big his heart is has made a really big impact on me.”

Sarah Row, @PiedmontUTennis pic.twitter.com/1PQ5TqNEeb
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) April 7, 2025

THE SENIORS

Men's Basketball

Women's Basketball

Men's & Women's Swimming

Softball

Women's Lacrosse

Women's Tennis

Men's Tennis

Men's Lacrosse

Baseball

THE STANDOUTS

Andelin Hill - CCS Player of the Year 2025

Leandro Forero - Swimmer of the Year 2025

Silas Goolsby - track athlete of the meet - MTF

THE STUDENT ATHLETES

Alexandria Willis - CSC All-District 2025

Savannah Limehouse - CSC All-District 2025

Allison Cantrell - CSC All-District 2025

Matthew Blocksom - CSC All-District 2025

Abigail Evans - WGCA All-America Scholar 2025

Erin Donovan - 2025 WGCA All-America Scholar

Keegan Goins - WGCA All-America Scholar 2025

NCAA DIII Week: Paige Kluba Earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

Paige Kluba

THE LEADERS

Jamie Jimison - women's coach of the year 2025

Jamie Jimison - men's coach of the year 2025

Dustin Meadows - CCS Coach of the Year 2025

Piedmont women’s lacrosse. March 6, 2025
Photo: Dale Zanine

We have the best coaching staff in Division III athletics. I say that because I know the commitment that each of our coaches has to our student-athletes. These are challenging times for many NCAA Division III institutions that are small private schools. Our people continue to recruit outstanding student-athletes. The success of our student-athletes in the classroom, 3.35 department GPA for the year, the level of excellence that happens on the fields of play only happens because you have tremendous people leading your programs

Jim Peeples

THE LEGENDS

NCAA DIII Week: Piedmont Baseball Makes History, Retires #26 Jersey Honoring Brady & Carter Ballstadt

See what Brady and Carter had to say about their time with the Lions ?? https://t.co/8GIFEH28QU pic.twitter.com/eGOQZTMXu6
— Piedmont Lions (@PiedmontLions) April 10, 2025

THE MILESTONES & RECORDS

THE SETTING

Loudermilk Field

THE SUPPORT

It is also important to note how amazing our support staff are in athletic training, athletic communication, strength and conditioning, and everyone's commitment to providing the best experience of any Division III program in the country. It is the greatest honor of my life to serve our coaches, support staff, and student-athletes.

Jim Peeples

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