LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference recently released its All-Sportsmanship List for winter sports, 2016-17. Representing Centenary were junior swimmer Caitlyn Faulhaber and basketball senior Linda Gomez Gil for the Ladies, while junior swimmer Anthony McDonald and junior basketball player Travion Kirkendoll represented the Gents.
"We are proud of both Anthony and Caitlyn. Both show their support for their teammates each and every day," said head coach Butch Jordan. "Anthony is always vocal in difficult sets encouraging lane partners. When teammates are on the blocks for timed swims in practice, you can bet that Anthony will be cheering them on even when he as no air left in his lungs. Caitlyn's style is more quiet and reserved. Not giving your best is not something she understands, and I think her teammates feel that from her."
At the 2017 SCAC Swimming Championships, Faulhaber placed fourth in a trio of relays. She teamed up with freshman Jessi Jordan, sophomore Elena Ring, and senior Cameron Barney in the 200 medley relay, touching the wall in 1:54.84. The quartet of Faulhaber, Barney, Ring, and freshman Tori Boyle placed fourth in both the 200 free (1:42.57) and 400 free relays (3:49.01).
Individually, Faulhaber took 11th in the 50 free, finishing with a time of 25.37.
McDonald picked up a pair of All-Conference accolades - one in an individual event and one as a member of the 400 medley relay. He took third in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.64, touching the wall 59.26 in the preliminaries. The 400 medley relay team of senior Juan Tapia, juniors Zachary Harrison and Roberto Roig-Perez, and McDonald swam for All-Conference accolades by finishing third with a time of 3:30.81.
For Ladies basketball, Gomez Gil ended her Centenary career with career season highs in points (134), rebounds (95), assists (40), and field goal percentage (33.8 percent). Against Rust December 19, she scored 15 points on 4-for-6 shooting - including 2-for-3 from distance - in helping Centenary claim an 87-64 win.
"Linda is very deserving of this honor," said head coach David Foley. "Linda was a very positive representation of good sportsmanship on and off the floor for our program this season."
In her last game, Gomez Gil grabbed a career-best nine rebounds against Austin College February 18.
A Second Team All-Conference honoree this season for Gents basketball, Kirkendoll finished second in the conference in scoring (18.0 points per game) and fourth in rebounding (7.1 rebounds per game). He also led the conference and is 68th in the nation with 2.08 steals per game. He finished the season with four double-doubles.
"I am very proud of all that Travion has accomplished so far in his time as a Gent," said head coach Adam Walsh. "I know this recognition will matter to him, because character is very important to him. I am grateful for, and appreciate, who he is."
Kirkendoll poured in a career-best 35 points in the loss to Texas Lutheran January 22. He was named SCAC Player of the Week December 12, after he scored 17 points in an 80-77 win over Louisiana College December 8. In the game, he became the 33rd Gent with 1,000 career points.
