Centenary Athletics Spring 2021 Recap
It was hard to know what to expect when Centenary athletics resumed in January after competition was halted due to the onset of COVID-19 back in the spring of 2020. What followed over the next five months was one of the most exciting and successful periods in recent history for the Maroon and White.
Centenary Athletics Spring 2021 Recap:
It was hard to know what to expect when Centenary athletics resumed in January after competition was halted due to the onset of COVID-19 back in the spring of 2020. What followed over the next five months was one of the most exciting and successful periods in recent history for the Maroon and White. The Ladies and Gents shined and thrived. A national individual champion in gymnastics, a conference tournament title in men's soccer, a nationally-ranked baseball team, 42 all-conference selections, a head coach reach 100 career wins, record-setting individual performances by a pair of swimmers, and much, much more! Now that the dust has settled on the spring season, let's take a look back sport by sport. Enjoy!
Baseball:
The Gents had one of their finest seasons in program history as they went 30-11 overall and 14-7 in conference play. Centenary, which won 30 games in a season for just the second time in the Division III era (2012-present) and 10th time in school history, set a D3 era single-season record for home wins (17) and won their first 16 at Shehee Stadium. They swept five opponents at home this past season and are 20-3 in their last 23 home games dating back to the beginning of last season. Centenary also won a program-record 18-straight games from March 4-April 6 as the Maroon and White went unbeaten for six-consecutive weeks and at the time owned the longest winning streak in the nation in Division III. The Gents were ranked for eight straight weeks in the D3baseball.com/NCBWA poll and peaked at No. 14. Centenary secured the No. 4 seed in the 2021 SCAC Championship in Cleburne, Texas.
Gents head coach Mike Diaz was named the SCAC Coach of the Year, winning the award for the fifth time in his career. Senior P/1B Preston Ludwick (Pflugerville, Texas) was named the SCAC Pitcher of the Year as he entered the championship after recording a stellar regular season, going 8-1 with a 3.54 ERA. He led the league in wins and was second in ERA.
Ludwick also earned a spot on the All-SCAC First Team along with senior RF Cody Crowder (Shepherd, Texas), and sophomore RHP Parker Primeaux (Lake Charles, La.). Five Gents were recognized with Second Team and Honorable Mention honors. Junior CF Gary Hewitt (Cedar Park, Texas), junior SS Brady Robinson (Jacksonville, Texas), and senior LF/DH Tyler Welch (Alexandria, La.) each collected Second Team honors. Junior C/1B Ben Bridges (Beckville, Texas) and senior C/2B Tyler Erickson (Houston, Texas) earned Honorable Mention recognition. Welch represented the Maroon and White on the SCAC Championship All-Tournament Team, and Crowder, Ludwick, Primeaux, and Welch all earned West All-Region honors by either ABCA/Rawlings or D3Baseball.com.
Men's Basketball:
The Gents followed up last season's NCAA Tournament appearance and SCAC tournament championship with another great season. Centenary finished 8-4 and 7-3 in SCAC play and reached the semifinals of the SCAC Tournament. Centenary is an impressive 18-4 in its last 22 conference games dating back to Jan. 25, 2020. The Gents finished the season as one of the top defensive teams in the nation, ranking 12th in the nation in scoring defense and 20th in field-goal percentage defense. Centenary was also 12th in turnovers forced and 10th in turnover margin. The Gents ranked first in the league in scoring defense, first in field goal percentage defense, number one in turnover margin, and second in steals. The Gents ended the season allowing only one team to score at least 75 points against them, holding 11 of 12 opponents to less than 70 points and four below 60. Centenary set a Gold Dome (1970-present) record on Feb. 9 as the Maroon and White allowed just 37 points to Colorado College in a 51-37 win, marking the fewest points scored by an opponent in the building. The 37 points also marks the fewest number of points allowed by the Maroon and White in the Division III era (2012-present). The Gents are a stellar 15-3 in their last 18 home games. Centenary's superb pair of sophomores, Seth Thomas (Kilgore, Texas) and Ralph Johnson (New Iberia, La.) were each named to the 2020-21 All-SCAC Men's Basketball team. Thomas was one of five players named to the All-SCAC First team while Johnson was named to the Third team. Thomas finished this season ranked in the top five in the SCAC in five categories and ranked in the top 10 in seven. He ranked third in the league in scoring (15.3 PPG), second in rebounding (8.7 RPG), fourth in steals (2.1 SPG), and first in defensive rebounds (89 total/7.4/game). He ranked fourth in minutes played, ninth in free-throw percentage (75.8), and ninth in blocked shots (10). He was also tied for 10th in three-point field goals made with 19 and scored in double figures in 10 of the Gents' 11 games this season, scored 20 or more points in a game three times, 15 or more five times, and had five double-doubles. He was named SCAC Player of the Week on Jan. 25 and named to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week on Jan. 26 as he led the Gents in a road sweep of Schreiner in conference play the weekend prior. He posted a double-double in the Jan. 22 win, recording a career-high 24 points while grabbing 12 rebounds as the Gents earned the 79-75 victory. Thomas also earned Honorable-Mention All-Louisiana honors this season as he was recognized as one of the top players in the entire state. Fellow sophomore guard Ralph Johnson (New Iberia, La.) ranks 20th in the SCAC in scoring (10.6 PPG), eighth in assists per game (2.7 APG), tied for 10th in free-throw percentage, 10th in steals per game, and played the seventh-most minutes in the conference this season.
Women's Basketball:
The Centenary women's basketball team saved its best for last as the Ladies defeated the St. Thomas Celts 70-69 in overtime on Feb. 27 in the regular-season finale for their lone win of the season, making the postgame Senior Day celebration even sweeter at the Gold Dome. Sophomore forward Jazzmyn Jones (Normangee, Texas) tied the game at 59-59 with a shot off the glass with .006 on the clock to send the game to overtime after a back and forth final quarter of play. Centenary then outscored St. Thomas by a score of 11-10 in OT to clinch the win. Ladies' freshman guard Addy Tremie (Sulphur, La.) was named the 2020-21 SCAC Co-Newcomer of the Year and also earned Honorable Mention recognition following her superb true freshman season. She finished the season averaging 15.7 PPG, third-best in the conference, and led the team. Tremie reached double figures eight times in nine games this past season, ranked third in the league in three-point field goals made (21), and third in minutes played (324 total minutes/36.0 MPG). She also finished tied for 12th in defensive rebounds (45), and tied for 14th in overall rebounding with 54 total and an average of six per game. She wasted no time in establishing herself as a scorer as she poured in 18 points in her collegiate debut at home versus Texas Lutheran on Jan. 16. She shot 7-16 from the floor in 38 minutes and made four of her 10 three-point attempts and grabbed seven rebounds. Tremie was also recognized as one of the top players in the state as she earned Honorable-Mention All-Louisiana honors.
Cheer and Dance:
The Centenary Dance team competed in the first competition in program history on March 27 as the Leading Ladies took part in the American Dance/Drill Team American Collegiate Championships in Arlington, Texas. Centenary competed against eight teams which included UT Tyler, UT Dallas, Dallas Baptist, and Texas Wesleyan. Centenary's cheer squad was able to entertain the home crowd at Mayo Field this spring for soccer matches along with Skeeter, the official mascot.
Men's and Women's Golf
The Gents recorded a runner-up finish in their home tournament, the Hal Sutton Invitational, in March at The Golf Club at Stonebridge in Bossier City. Richard Polan and Brodey Warner garnered All-SCAC honors as each finished in the top 10 at the 2021 SCAC Championships in April. Polan was also honored as the 2021 SCAC Men's Golf Elite 19 award winner at the conclusion of the championships.
The Ladies participated in five tournaments during the season and had their best finish (4th) at the Linda Lowery Invitational in March. Junior Abigail Hayes (Plano, Texas) and senior Shannon Orlopp (Rogers, Ark.) tied for 10th place. The Ladies placed fifth at the 2021 SCAC Championships and Hayes was the top finisher for the Ladies as she finished 19th
Gymnastics:
Sophomore Taylor Ann Wilson (Memphis, Tenn.) made history as she claimed the individual bars title at the 2021 USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championship in April in Cape Girardeau. Mo. Wilson scored a stellar 9.875, a new career high mark, to put an exclamation point on her season which can only be described as improbable. Wilson became a national champion just one day after making her collegiate debut in the event. She made history as she becomes the first Centenary gymnast to win an individual title at the USAG National Championships in the division III era (2012-present).
Wilson was named a First Team All-American on bars following her historic performance. Juniors Kendall Sanders (Spring Branch, Texas) and Xian Baumgartner (Albuquerque, N.M.) each earned First Team All-American honors in the all-around, and Sanders also garnered First Team honors on floor. Senior Sierra Ponder (Stone Mountain, Ga.) was honored as a Second Team All-American on bars. Huff, Ponder, and Sanders were also named All-Americans by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA).
Ponder (bars) and Sanders (floor and all-around) were also named All-Americans by USA Gymnastics as Ponder was a Second team selection and Sanders collected First Team honors. Huff and Sanders each achieved Second Team all-conference honors at the annual Midwest Independence Conference (MIC) Championships, Huff on vault and Sanders in both the all-around and on floor. Huff recorded a new career-high 9.800 while Sanders placed fourth in the all-around with a score of 38.650 and collected a 9.700 on floor. Ponder was named MIC Senior Athlete of the Year following the meet. Centenary had an impressive 16 gymnasts named as MIC Scholar-Athletes, as each earned a 3.25 GPA or higher, including nine with perfect 4.0 GPAs.
Lacrosse:
The Gents swept Dallas in a pair of games, the first a 7-4 victory at home on March 7 on Senior Day. That win was the first for Centenary since reestablishing as a varsity program. Senior goalkeeper Thomas Siskron finished the season with an impressive 193 saves and 314 for his career. Centenary had three players earn SCAC Player of the Week honors during the season, Jordan Cook on the offensive side and Siskron and Ethan Little on the defensive side. Centenary placed five players on the All-SCAC squad, highlighted by Cook being named Co-Newcomer of the Year and Second-Team All-SCAC. Kyle Comi joined Cook on the second team along with Siskron, Matthew Lulich, and Mark Temple.
Men's Soccer
The Gents claimed the 2020-21 SCAC Men's Soccer Championship on April 25, besting the St. Thomas Celts, 3-1, in a penalty kick shootout as Centenary won its first conference championship in the Division III era in front of a spirited and supportive crowd at Mayo Field. The Gents and Celts played to a scoreless draw through 90 minutes in regulation and then remained tied through two 10-minute overtime periods. Amazingly, this occurred less than 24 hours after Centenary earned a berth in Sunday's title game for the first time in program history after advancing 3-1 on penalty kicks versus No. 2 seed Southwestern. Centenary becomes the first No. 6 seed in SCAC history to make the final and first to win it. The last men's soccer title for the Gents came in 1990 as members of the NCAA Division I Trans America Athletic Conference (now the ASUN Conference). Centenary, fueled by a raucous home crowd all weekend, upset No. 3 seed Colorado College 2-1 in the quarterfinals and continued to ride the momentum all the way to Sunday and became the first team in the history of the event to win three games in three days. Centenary was picked to finish eighth out of nine teams this season in the preseason coaches' poll and became the second program in SCAC Tournament history to win the title on home soil, as Trinity accomplished the feat back in 2012. Sophomore MF Andres Bautista (Houston, Texas) was named the tournament's Offensive MVP while junior GK Sami Borchalli (Lafayette, La.) was named Defensive MVP. As expected, the postseason awards were plentiful for the Maroon and White as head coach Kyle Symczak was named the SCAC Coach of the Year and three Gents earned All-SCAC honors. Sophomore MF Andres Bautista (Houston, Texas), junior D Diego Hernandez (Carrollton, Texas), and sophomore MF Jaron Petreas (Denton, Texas) each garnered All-SCAC honors for the first time in their careers. Bautista was a First Team selection, Petreas was named to the Second Team, and Hernandez was an Honorable Mention selection. Bautista, Borchalli, senior D Shim Eliya (Fort Worth, Texas), and Petreas were each named to the SCAC Championship All-Tournament Team. Petreas was named the 2020-21 SCAC Men's Soccer Elite 19 award winner last month.
Women's Soccer:
The Ladies had a fantastic season, going 8-4 overall and 4-3 in SCAC play and setting a Division III era (2011-present) single-season record for shutouts in a season with seven. They finished the regular season allowing just five goals and outscoring their opponents, 20-5. Centenary is 24-7 in its last 31 matches over the last two seasons, 10-6 in its last 16 conference matches, and finished the season 5-3 at home. The Maroon and White are 13-4 at Mayo Field over the last two seasons. Centenary finished the regular season ranked second in the league in assists, goals, points, and shots. Centenary placed a program-record eleven players on the All-SCAC team. Junior MF Gabby McDonald (Pasadena, Texas) earned First team recognition, sophomores Sydney Bascomb (Mesquite, Texas) and Yosi Bouslog (Friendswood, Texas) were named to the second team, six Ladies earned Honorable Mention recognition, and three Ladies were named to the All-Freshman Team. Forward Daisy Acosta (Deer Park, Texas), D Alexa Hinojosa (Pasadena, Texas), and MF Cynthia Williams (Bossier City, La.) each landed on the SCAC All-Freshman Team and Hinojosa also picked up Honorable Mention honors. Hinojosa was joined by five others; senior F Pamela Fonseca (Houston, Texas), sophomore MF Avery Gilbert (League City, Texas), junior D Allie Moore (Santa Fe, Texas), sophomore MF Celeste Muniz (Denton, Texas), and senior GK Maggie Pitcher (San Antonio, Texas).
Softball:
The Ladies had another successful season under the direction of head coach Mark Suire, as they advanced to the championship round of the SCAC Championship for the first time in program history in the D3 era. Centenary's 2-1 win over Schreiner on May 2 clinched a berth in the championship and was Suire's 100th career win with the Maroon and White. The Ladies finished the season with an 18-20 record and went 8-11 in SCAC play, and were the No. 5 seed in the conference championship.
Six Centenary Ladies were named All-SCAC as freshman right fielder Mackenzie Cox (Alexandria, La.) was a First Team All-SCAC selection, fellow freshman Cambry Bates (Readhimer, La.) earned Second-Team All-SCAC honors as a designated player, and four Ladies made the Honorable Mention squad; Junior P Ashley Hunter (Benton, La.), freshman P Hailee Leger (Belle Chasse, La.), senior C Erin Lewis (Leesville, La.), and sophomore UT Kaylea Patridge (Las Vegas, Nev.). Leger ranked in the top five in the regular season in the league in ERA, strikeouts, and saves. Leger's five saves are tied for the most in the country in Division III. Leger's 2.13 ERA sets a new D3 era record for lowest ERA in a single season and her five saves set a new single-season record. Cox ranked in the top 10 in the SCAC during the regular season in batting average, OBP, hits, walks, and stolen bases. Cox also set or tied several Division-III era (2012-present) single-game and season records. Her batting average is the sixth best in a single season, OBP is fifth best, and her 44 hits are tied for the fifth-most in a single season in the span. Her four triples are also a new D3 era single-season record.
Men's and Women's Swimming:
The Ladies and Gents each placed fourth at the SCAC Championships in February in San Antonio. Ladies' junior Brianna Serret (Alexandria, La.) won the 100-Yard Backstroke with a time of 59.29, marking the program's first individual win in the event and just the third individual win by a Centenary women's swimmer at the SCAC Championships since the Maroon and White joined the conference prior to the 2012-13 season. Miguel Vasquez had a fantastic meet as he won the 100 fly, swimming a career-best time of 50.89 to become the first Centenary male swimmer to win an individual title since 2014. He was also named the 2021 SCAC Men's Swimming & Diving Elite 19 award winner at the conclusion of the meet. Serret, Kaylin Swoboda, Mitchell Lulich, and Vasquez were each named All-SCAC.
Men's and Women's Track and Field:
The Centenary men's and women's track and field teams competed in five meets in their inaugural seasons, highlighted by appearances in the 2021 SCAC Track & Field Championships in Seguin, Texas. The Ladies finished fifth and collected nine points while the Gents placed ninth. Senior Jennae Mayberry (Clovis, Calif.) earned a fourth-place finish in the Women's 400 Meter Dash (1:02.85) and finished sixth in the 200 Meter Dash with a time of 26.78. Freshman Kenan Cooper (St. Francisville, La.) just missed a top-10 finish in the Men's 100 Meter Dash as he placed 11th with a time of 12.61. Junior Payton Lii (Dallas, Texas) finished 19th in the Men's 800 Meter Run (2:13.47). Lii (24.91) and Cooper (26.17) earned top-15 finishes in the 200 Meter Dash as Lii placed 13th and Cooper 15th.
Men's Volleyball:
The Gents, in their first season, faced Louisiana Tech in four matches – two in Ruston and two at home. Centenary finished the season with a flourish as the Maroon and White defeated the Bulldogs, 3-2, on March 23 in the Gold Dome.
Ladies Volleyball:
Junior OH Alyssa Davis was named to the 2020-21 All-SCAC Volleyball Third Team as she had a superb season for the Ladies, finishing third in the conference in kills (166) and ranked 41st in the nation in Division III in the category. She also averaged 3.19 kills per set and led the Ladies in kills and kills per set. Davis also recorded 132 digs this season which ranked second on the team. She becomes the first Centenary player to be named All-SCAC since her teammate and fellow junior, Rachel Demerjian, was named to the Second Team All-Conference squad in 2018. Demerjian was featured as the SCAC Character & Community Female Student-Athlete of the Week in May.
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