2022 Augusta Athletics Year in Review

12/30/2022 12:00:00 PM

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

2022 saw conference championships from four different Augusta University teams. Women's golf captured the Southland Conference championship in its inaugural season as a member. Men's basketball captured both the PBC regular season title and PBC Tournament championships. Women's volleyball captured the PBC regular season title for the first time in school history. Men's cross country won its fourth consecutive Peach Belt Championship and fifth championship in the last six years.

WINTER/SPRING HIGHLIGHTS

The Augusta men's tennis team was ranked as high as No. 16 in ITA National Poll. The team remained in the Top-30 for the entire 2022 Spring season, finishing the season ranked No. 26. Six Jaguars Earned ITA Scholar-Athlete Honors and the team earned the ITA All-Academic Team award.

Augusta women's tennis headlined the Peach Belt All-Conference Awards. Claudia Borbon Roca was named PBC Freshman of the Year and All-Conference First Team. Julia Moraes was named All-Conference Second Team. Both players finished in the top-20 and were named ITA All-Americans. Clara Bascunana de Miguel was awarded the prestigious Elite 16 Award for the conference. Jaguar Women's tennis was named an ITA All-Academic Team and three members were honored as Scholar-Athletes.

Augusta women's basketball carded its best season since 2016-2016, securing a no. 5 seed in the PBC Tournament. Kennedi Manning was named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction. Augusta women's basketball is continuing its momentum into the 2022-23 season, getting off to an 8-3 start.

Augusta softball wrapped the 2022 season with two victories over Georgia College. Jakayla Sullivan was named to the PBC All-Conference Team. Six softball players were named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction and the team won the Sportsmanship Award for the conference.

Academically, Augusta baseball was the most well-represented. The Jaguars posted nine players to the team of academic distinction.

Men's Track & Field had a strong 2022 showing. Senior Hans Troyer set a new 10,000m record and Xavier Allen broke the 400m hurdle record. Seven Augusta runners were named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction. Senior Kai Brickey was named USTFCCCA All-Region for his performance in the 800m.

Augusta women's track and Field broke four school records during the 2022 season. Priscilla Ajala broke the 100m and 200m Augusta University records. Jayla Ferris notched a new 400m record and Kaitlyn Lancaster broke the javelin record.

In its inaugural season in the Southland Conference Championships, Augusta men's golf a drew the No. 2 seed and finished third. Gareth Steyn was named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and Alex van Wyk was named to the All-Conference Team. Brock Hoover was named to the Southland Conference All-Academic team.

Augusta women's golf was crowned Southland Conference Champions in its introductory championship. The Jaguars earned their ninth NCAA postseason berth. Head Coach Caroline Haase-Hegg was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year. AU also took home Freshman of the Year honors, and four Jaguars were named to the All-Conference Team. Senior standout Natalia Yoko advanced out of the NCAA regional to the NCAA championships in Scottsdale, Arizona.

HISTORIC MEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON

In dominant fashion, Augusta (33-4, 15-3 PBC) captured the outright Peach Belt Conference regular-season basketball title.

Augusta also hosted and won the PBC Tournament championship before drawing the No. 1 seed and hosting the NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament.

The Jaguars were undefeated at home in Christenberry Fieldhouse. After becoming the NCAA Southeast Region Champions, the Jaguars advanced all the way to the NCAA championship game in Evansville, Indiana. Prior to the national championship, the team's only 3 losses came from Lander, Columbus State, and Flagler in January.

Augusta authored a school-record 19-game win streak, during which the Jaguars rose to become the No. 10 ranked team in the country. The team set a single-season program record for wins with 33.

The Jags' 336 three-pointers in 2022 was also a program record and they were third in the country for three-point field goal percentage.

Head Coach Dip Metress picked up his 500^th career win in his 18^th year as the head of the program.

Center Tyshaun Crawford was named PBC Co-Player of the Year and Troy Cracknell was named PBC All-Conference.

Augusta men's basketball closed the year ranked No. 2 in the final NABC National Poll.

THE END OF AN ERA

Clint Bryant, storied athletic director, retired from his post at the helm of Augusta University Athletics. Firmly established as one of the most respected and longest-serving leaders in intercollegiate athletics, Bryant served 34 years as head of Augusta University Athletics. Under Bryant's leadership, Augusta's programs enjoyed success on and off the playing fields and courts, bringing home national, regional and conference championships. Named the Division II Athletic Director of the Year and selected to the NCAA's Division II 40th anniversary team for his standout efforts, Bryant made a name for himself throughout the state and region. On November 20, Augusta University honored Bryant with a court dedication ceremony during halftime of the men's basketball game.

After 19 years, Adam Ward stepped down from his role leading the track & field and cross country programs at Augusta. Ward left Augusta to take on the role of Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach at University of Maine. The long-time coach's tenure was highlighted by six cross country championships and 17 individual championships. Ward closed his DII career having been named PBC Coach of the Year 11 times.

FALL HIGHLIGHTS

Augusta Women's Volleyball collected their eighth 20-win season and claimed the PBC Tournament Regular Season title for the first time in school history. The Jaguars advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in the last eight years. Jazmyn Wheeler was named PBC Player of the Year as well as being named an AVCA All-American. Wheeler and Alexis Diaz-Infante garnered All-Region honors and three Jaguars were named PBC All-Conference.

Augusta women's cross country finished third at the PBC Championships and seventh at the NCAA Regional Championship. Cassie Lagan and Riley triplet were named to the All-Conference Team.

Augusta men's cross country won its fourth consecutive PBC Championship (fifth in the last six years) with a perfect score. Kai Brickey repeated as PBC Individual Champion. Patrick Motes was named Runner of the Year and Jacob Burgamy was named Coach of the Year. Seven Augusta runners were named All-Conference. AU finished second at the NCAA Southeast regional and qualified for the NCAA Championships in Seattle where they finished 24^th.

NEW BEGINNINGS

Ryan Erlacher at Augusta University Introductory Press Conference — Introductory press conference for Ryan Erlacher - Director of Athletics

In August, Ryan Erlacher was appointed as the new Director of Athletics at Augusta University. As an executive and administrator in intercollegiate athletics, Erlacher brings over 15 years of experience to Augusta University. As chief athletics administrator at Clayton State, academic and athletic success was at an all-time high and the department was a finalist for the NCAA Division II Award of excellence. Prior to coming to Augusta, Erlacher served as the senior associate director of athletics at Flagler College before assuming his role at Clayton State.

Men's golf, women's basketball, and cross country/track and field each saw new leadership for their programs.

Steven Paine was named Director of Golf and Head Men's Golf Coach. Most recently, he was the assistant men's coach at Mississippi State University

Former assistant Celeste Stewart was elevated to interim head women's basketball coach after former head coach Millette Green's departure for Wake Forest.

Jacob Burgamy was tabbed to lead the cross country and track and field programs at AU. Burgmany was a member of the 2019 Augusta cross country team – the highest finishing team in program history.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS

The Augusta University athletic department maintained an overall departmental GPA of a 3.18 for the spring 2022 semester. 122 student athletes were named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for the spring semester. All 13 NCAA sports that the Jaguars compete in were represented on the list. To be eligible for the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, a student-athlete must register a term GPA of 3.0 or better.

For 2022, all 13 teams had student-athletes represented on their respective Peach Belt Teams of Academic Distinction. To be eligible, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team's events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieve a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility.

A COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT

McKight Gift

In the spring, the Augusta University Department of Athletics received a $1 million commitment from longtime AU supporters, Mason and Lou McKnight. Their gift will be directed to improve both the Jaguar baseball and softball facilities and will bear the Mason McKnight III family name in recognition of their generosity. The McKnight's gift will allow for significant improvements to both the softball and baseball complex and will help elevate not only the fan experience, but the student-athlete-experience as well.

Birdie Club Social and Scramble

The Augusta University Golf Programs hosted the annual Birdie Club Social and Scramble in November. Over 112 took to Forest Hills Golf Course – Augusta University's home course – to take part in the fundraiser. Silent auctions and a putting contest opened the event. In total, the event raised just over $50,000. The majority of those funds will be split evenly between the men's and women's programs to support their annual operating budget. The proceeds from the raffle this year (approximately $3500) benefited the Rhonda Graybeal scholarship endowment to benefit the women's golf program.

Education Game Day

Augusta University Athletics hosted over 2,100 Richmond Country fifth graders as well as their teachers and staff for the men's basketball victory over Bowie State. Lake Forest Hills Elementary school students sang the national anthem. During the game, students were featured on the arena's videoboards and participated in on-court activities during timeouts. Contests included trivia, layup contests, a free-throw contest, and prize giveaways. Halftime featured remarks from sponsor Queensborough Bank & Trust Co. and Richmond County Superintendent of School Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw. A special presentation was made by Dr. Judi Wilson (Dean of the Augusta University College of Education and Human Development) to Richmond Country's Teacher of the Year Shikara Willis.

Augusta University President Confers Degree Before Women's Basketball Game

Winter graduation for Augusta University was on December 17. Senior Kennedi Manning opted to play in the team's contest against Newberry that day. The senior All-Conference performer was unable to participate in formal commencement exercises and missed the opportunity to walk across the stage with her classmates. As a special presentation, Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel brought Kennedi Manning's commencement to Christenberry Fieldhouse. Along with Faculty Athletic Representative Dr. David Hunt and the Augusta University College of Science and Mathematics, Dr. Keel conferred Kennedi Manning's psychology degree on Clint L. Bryant Court prior to tipoff

"Augusta Athletics has much to be proud of over the past year. Numerous championships, excellence in the classroom, and our student-athletes making a true difference in our community. Our programs will continue to thrive in 2023 and facility enhancements, greater emphasis on external support, and having a bigger presence in the community are just three areas we will see significant growth. We will continue to set the standard in both the NCAA DI & DII and produce programs everyone will take great pride in."