Here’s a look at everything that happened in the world of sports on the Ole Miss campus April 21 – 27, 2014.
Track and Field
Ole Miss’ Tobin Tabbed SEC Freshman Of The Week
After a record-breaking performance at the Mt. SAC Relays last week, Ole Miss’ Sean Tobin was named the Southeastern Conference Men’s Freshman of the Week by the league office Tuesday.
Tobin shattered a 29-year-old Ole Miss record with his personal-best time of 3:42.07 in the 1,500 meters at the historic west-coast track & field meet.
The Clonmel, Ireland native placed eighth in the “elite” division race against other top collegians and some professionals. He was third among collegians and first among freshmen in the race.
In his first attempt at 1,500 meters in a college meet, he broke Doug Smith’s school record of 3:44.32, set in 1985, by more than two seconds. Tobin now ranks seventh nationally and first in the SEC at 1,500 meters, as well as 11th nationally and sixth in the SEC at 800 meters (1:47.99 last week at the Alabama-Mississippi Border Clash).
This is the second SEC weekly honor for Tobin, who also earned one during the indoor season. He was the 2014 SEC Indoor Men’s Freshman Runner of the Year, as well.
–Ole Miss Sports Information
Ole Miss Track Hitting Its Stride As Season Ramps Up
With less than a month left until the SEC Championships, Ole Miss will send its No. 11 nationally ranked men to the A-State Red Wolves Open in Jonesboro, Ark., and the women to the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa this week.
Only two weekends of competition remain before the SEC Championships (May 15-18 in Lexington, Ky.), which are followed by the NCAA East Preliminary (May 29-31 in Jacksonville, Fla.) and NCAA Championships (June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore.).
The A-State Red Wolves Open will take place Friday and Saturday on the campus of Arkansas State University. The meet begins Friday at 3 p.m. with the men’s hammer throw. Events run throughout Fridayevening and start back again at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Among the men’s teams in attendance will be Ohio State, Southern Illinois and Memphis.
The college portion of the prestigious Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee runs Wednesday-Saturday. Some of the world’s top professional athletes will also compete in featured events at the historic Drake Stadium throughout the week. Senior Mary Ashton Nall will get things started for the Rebels in the heptathlon Wednesday and Thursday.
The 11th-ranked Ole Miss men feature some of the nation’s top athletes and are coming off a strong performance at the Mt. SAC Relays last week. Freshman Sean Tobin provided one of the biggest highlights for the Rebels when he broke a 29-year-old school record in the 1,500 meters with his time of 3:42.07 that ranks seventh in the nation this year. He was tabbed SEC Freshman of the Week for his effort.
Ole Miss men that rank among the nation’s top 50 are Jalen Miller in the 100 meters (18th, 10.24) and 200 (41st, 20.85), Mike Granger in the 100 (36th, 10.34), Tobin in the 800 (12th, 1:47.99) and 1500 (7th, 3:42.07), Robert Semien in the 110 hurdles (24th, 13.91), the 4×100 relay (25th, 40.06), the 4×400 relay (31st, 3:09.20), Ricky Robertson in the high jump (1st, 7-6), long jump (18th, 25-0.75) and triple jump (20th, 51-2.25), Sam Kendricks in the pole vault (1st, 18-8.25), Phillip Young in the long jump (32nd, 24-9.75) and triple jump (10th, 51-9.75), Malcolm Davis in the long jump (38th, 24-7.75) and Nathan Loe in the hammer throw (24th, 210-3).
Kendricks remains atop the world rankings in the pole vault since his season-best jump of 18-8.25 at the Texas Relays. Robertson ranks second in the world in the high jump (7-6 at the Texas Relays) and is the only NCAA athlete that ranks in the top 20 in the high jump, long jump and triple jump.
Within the SEC, Ole Miss has the league leader in the 1500 (Tobin), high jump (Robertson) and pole vault (Kendricks).
On the women’s side, junior Kierra White currently ranks 18th nationally in the long jump (20-6.25), and Nall is 32nd in the heptathlon (5,278). They both rank top seven among SEC athletes in those events.
Athletics
Photo by Joshua McCoy
Football player Tyler Campbell and tennis player Caroline Rohde-Moe have been nominated for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship by Ole Miss.
The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship has been presented by the Southeastern Conference since 1986 to the league’s top male and female scholar-athletes.
The Southeastern Conference will name the 2014 recipients of the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship on May 6.
Highlights of Ole Miss’ nominees include:
Tyler Campbell, Football
• Earned two bachelor’s degrees in 2013 in Managerial Finance and Accounting • Currently pursuing a master’s in business administration • Cumulative undergraduate grade point average was 3.65, with a spotless 4.0 GPA in his graduate studies • Five-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member • Named Capital One Academic All-District in 2013 • Named to 2013-14 list of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges • Member of a select group of four-year starting punters for the Ole Miss Rebels • Has been one of the school’s top student-athletes since he arrived as a freshman in 2009 • An SEC All-Freshman selection • Twice named All-SEC in his career • NCAA punting champion sophomore season with an average kick of 46.37 yards • Finished career in 2013 with the second-best punting average in school history (44.6 yards per punt) and the third-most punting yards overall (10,075 yards) • Selected to play in the 2014 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl all-star game
Caroline Rohde-Moe, Tennis
Expected to graduate with a degree in Managerial Finance and Economics in May 2014 • Boasts a 3.94 grade point average • Received a Taylor Medal, the highest academic honor at the University of Mississippi • Has made the Chancellor’s Honor Roll every semester • Two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete • Selected to Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities • Member of the Honors College • Helped the Rebels earn the Chancellor’s Cup Team Award three of her four years, representing the women’s athletics team with the highest GPA for each calendar year. • Has led the team in receiving the ITA All-Academic Team Award every year of her career • Two-time All-SEC honoree • Helped lead the Rebels to the NCAA Championships every year of her career • Has volunteered with the Special Olympics, participated in Reading with the Rebels and is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
Each year, the SEC, in conjunction with AT&T, an SEC Corporate Champion sponsor, provides the league’s male and female McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship recipients with a $15,000 post-graduate scholarship. The 26 remaining male and female finalists for the award will also receive a $7,500 post-graduate scholarship.
The award recipients are chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from the 14 SEC institutions and are honored at the SEC Spring Meetings in Sandestin, Fla., in late May.
Last year’s McWhorter Award recipients were Barrett Jones of the Alabama football team and Chelsea Oswald of the Kentucky track & field team.
–Ole Miss Athletics
Women’s Golf
Sofia Idoyaga To Join Ole Miss Women’s Golf Team
Head women’s golf coach Michele Drinkard announced on Wednesday (April 23) that Sofia Idoyaga (Buenos Aires, Argentina) has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Ole Miss women’s golf team in the fall of 2014 for the 2014-15 season.
“We are excited that Sofia is coming to Ole Miss this fall and welcome her to the Ole Miss women’s golf family,” said Drinkard. “She will bring a lot of energy as a proven player in Argentina and will be a player that can have an immediate impact to our program.”
Idoyaga comes to Oxford from Buenos Aires, Argentina where she has had a very successful junior career. She currently is ranked No. 7 in the Argentina Association of Golf (AAG) junior rankings and No. 11 in the amateur rankings. Additionally, she’s ranked as the 6th best junior player in Argentina. She has won five consecutive Metropolitan region tournaments (2009-13) and placed third in the Abierto De Centro as an amateur in 2014 and fourth at the Nacional Por Golpes – both amateur events. She has placed in the top 10 in two American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Junior Championships over the last three years. Idoyaga placed sixth at the David Toms Foundation Shreveport (2012) and seventh at the Ravenwood Junior Championship (2013).
“I feel very happy and proud to become an Ole Miss Rebel,” said Idoyaga. “I had a great connection with the coaches and after visiting campus and meeting the team I knew it was the right decision.”
For all Ole Miss women’s golf news and information, go to OleMissSports.com, and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWGolf and on Facebook at Ole Miss Women’s Golf.
Women’s Tennis
Jones Earns All-SEC Honors
Junior Julia Jones has been a huge part of the Ole Miss women’s tennis, team’s success this year, and Wednesday, she was recognized for her efforts, earning All-SEC Second Team honors.
Jones (St. Petersburg, Fla.) owns a team-leading 26-10 overall record, 15-6 in dual matches and 8-5 in the SEC. She posted a 4-2 record at No. 2 singles, 11-4 at No. 3 singles. Jones also went 15-5 in doubles with freshman Zalina Khairudinova, 7-3 in the SEC.
This marks the second time for Jones to be recognized by the league office, as she was named to the All-Freshman team in 2012.
“Julia is very deserving of this honor,” head coach Mark Beyers said. “This league is very difficult, and she has had a great year leading us in singles and doubles. To be among the top players in a conference with five teams ranked in the top 10 currently, is a tremendous accomplishment.”
The Rebels have had at least one member of the squad named to the All-SEC team every year of Coach Beyers’ career (13 years).
Alabama’s Jenny Mainz was named SEC Coach of the Year for the third time in the last four years. The Crimson Tide are currently 22-4 overall and ended the conference season with a 12-1 record and the regular season title.
Georgia’s Lauren Herring was named Player of the Year while Alabama’s Erin Routliffe and Vanderbilt’s Sydney Campbell were named Co-Freshman of the Year. Scholar-Athlete of the Year was awarded to Alabama’s Mary Anne Daines.
The NCAA Selections will be announced Tuesday, April 29 at 4:30 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.
Follow the Rebels on Twitter, @OleMissWTennis and on Facebook at OleMissWTennis.
A complete list of the awards follows.
First Team All-SEC Erin Routliffe, Alabama Pleun Burgmans, Auburn Alexandra Cercone, Florida Brianna Morgan, Florida Olivia Janowicz, Florida Silvia Garcia, Georgia Lauren Herring, Georgia Maho Kowase, Georgia Georgiana Patrasc, Mississippi State Elixane Lechemia, South Carolina Cristina Stancu, Texas A&M Frances Altick, Vanderbilt
Second Team All-SEC Luicelena Perez, Alabama Maya Jansen, Alabama Emily Flickinger, Auburn Sofie Oyen, Florida Aldila Sutjiadi, Kentucky Joana Vale Costa, LSU Julia Jones, Ole Miss Cierra Gaytan-Leach, Missouri Eve Repic, Tennessee Saska Gavrilovska, Texas A&M Marie Casares, Vanderbilt Georgina Sellyn, Vanderbilt
All-Freshman Danielle Spielmann, Alabama Erin Routliffe, Alabama Sydney Campbell, Vanderbilt Joana Vale Costa, LSU Saska Gavrilovska, Texas A&M Eve Repic, Tennessee
Player of the Year Lauren Herring, Georgia
Freshman of the Year Erin Routliffe, Alabama Sydney Campbell, Vanderbilt
Coach of the Year Jenny Mainz, Alabama
Scholar-Athlete of the Year Mary Anne Daines, Alabama
Softball
Ole Miss Prepares for Final SEC Home Series
The Ole Miss softball team will host its final Southeastern Conference home series of the year this weekend when it welcomes No. 24 LSU to town for a three-game series beginning Friday at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
The Rebels (22-25, 3-15 SEC) and Tigers will open play Friday at 6 p.m. CT. Game two is scheduled to start Saturday at 2 p.m. CT, and the series concludes Sunday with a 1 p.m. CT first pitch.
“Everybody in the SEC is good,” Ole Miss head coach Windy Thees said. “Week in and week out, that’s why we play. LSU is a fast team. We match up pretty well against them. We need to not just stay in games like we have all year, but we need to finish games and play 21 outs. If we play 21 outs hard we’ll walk away with a win.
“Right now we’re working on perfect effort, perfect attitude and being perfect teammates. If we can do those three things, the wins and losses will take care of themselves.”
Ole Miss will recognize two of its six seniors prior to each game of the series. RT Cantillo and Shelby Jo Fenter will be recognized Friday, Carly Hummel and Londen Ladner will go Saturday, and Natalie Nimmo and Marina Parra will be honored prior to Sunday’s game.
“Senior Weekend is a special weekend,” Thees said. “We want to perform well for our seniors, and we want our seniors to perform well, come out and contribute. We also want everybody here for this last home weekend to see some really great softball. That’s what we want to put on the field, is a product where our kids are going out there and giving it all they have.”
The Rebels and Tigers played once last year in a non-conference game at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. It is the first time the two teams have faced each other in SEC action since 2012, and it’s the first time LSU has visited Oxford for an SEC series since 2011.
On Friday, fans will be able to get free titanium necklaces upon entry to the stadium. Saturday will be the Rebels’ Breast Cancer Awareness game, with pink bead necklaces and ribbon stickers given out to fans. It will also be Crawfish Saturday, with 100 pounds of crawfish available for fans in the outfield free of charge. Finally, fans can pick up a pair of sunglasses Sunday, and can also find a cure for their sweet tooth with free ice cream sundaes available for fans while supplies last. Admission is free to all Ole Miss softball games.
Cantillo continues to lead Ole Miss at the plate with a team-high .446 batting average that ranks No. 2 in the SEC, and her team-high 58 hits are the sixth most in single-season program history. The Santa Ana, Calif., native was drafted by the Chicago Bandits in the fifth round of the National Pro Fastpitch College Draft on March 31.
Junior third baseman Allison Brown is second on the team in batting average (.350), hits (50), RBIs (28) and runs (27), and leads the team in doubles with 12, which is tied for the sixth most in single-season school history. Brown owns the current record of 17, which she set as a sophomore. Ladner is leading the Rebels in home runs (seven) and RBIs (34).
In the circle, Hummel (10-12) has thrown a team-high 121.1 innings, has struck out a team-high 110 batters and holds a team-best ERA of 3.17.
LSU, which plays No. 20 South Alabama on Wednesday night in Baton Rouge, La., has been led offensively by junior outfielder A.J. Andrews, who has a team-high batting average of .333 and 30 runs scored, and freshman catcher/infielder Sahvanna Jaquish, who has a team-high 10 home runs and 34 RBIs.
The LSU pitching staff has been led primarily by freshman Baylee Corbello and senior Ashley Czechner. Corbello has a team-best ERA of 2.93, a team-high 141.0 innings pitched and 142 strikeouts. Czechner has thrown 121.0 innings with a 3.82 ERA and 86 strikeouts.
For all Ole Miss softball news and information, including live stats and a recap of each game of the LSU series, go to OleMissSports.com and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissSoftball and on Facebook at Ole Miss Softball.
HottyToddy.com Sports Round Up: April 21-27
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