Huntingdon’s Still and Gonzalez recognized with USA South honors

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Huntingdon senior tennis player Hannah Still and freshman Jared Gonzalez were named USA South Athletes of the Week on Monday.

Still is the first Women's Tennis Player of the Week for the conference this spring. This is the third straight week Gonzalez has been named conference Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week.

Still, a native of Wesley Chapel, Fla., is unbeaten this season in singles and doubles. She is 3-0 at No. 1 singles with straight-set wins over Point University, Williams Peace and Meredith College. In doubles, she is 2-0 at No. 1 with teammate Sarah Warren and 1-0 at No. 2 doubles with teammate Caroline McBroom.

Gonzalez, a native of Navarre, Fla., picked up his third win of the season in a 5-2 win over Methodist on Sunday. He struck out five, walked one, scattered five hits and allowed two runs in six innings.

In five appearances this season, Gonzalez is 3-0 with a 4.10 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings.

Below is the complete list of USA South Athletes of the Week.

Players of the Week

Baseball Player of the Week
Nick Dean, Maryville - The senior infielder from Mineral Bluff, Georgia went a combined 11-for-16 (.688) with eight runs scored, four RBI, one double, one triple, one home run, one walk and one stolen base as the Scots swept a three games series from USA South foe William Peace last week. Dean also compiled a .647 on-base percentage and a 1.000 slugging percentage. In the first two wins, a doubleheader, Dean was a combined 8-for-11 with six runs scored, three RBI, one double, one triple, one home run and one stolen base. Also Nominated: Taylor Davis, Averett; Michael Barnes, Piedmont; Steven Kirby, Methodist;Anthony Spivey, Huntingdon.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Lawson Wishard, Maryville - The Mason, Ohio junior collected a victory in a 16-1, eight-inning, win over USA South foe William Peace in his only appearance on the mound last week for the Scots. Wishard tossed seven innings and allowed just one unearned run on three hits with one walk and nine strikeouts. Also Nominated: T.J. Viracola, Averett; Zach Tatham, LaGrange; Josh Thomas, Piedmont; Zack Watson, Huntingdon.

Softball Player of the Week
Jessica Long, Averett - The sophomore infielder/outfielder from Prospect Hill, North Carolina went a combined 14-for-20 (.700) with ten RBI, nine runs scored, one double, two home runs, two walks and one stolen base as the Cougars posted a 5-0 record last week. In a 12-8 victory over fifth-ranked Christopher Newport, Long was 4-for-5 with three runs scored, two RBI and one stolen base. In a doubleheader sweep of USA South foe Maryville, Long was a combined 5-for-7 with four RBI, two runs scored, one home run and one walk. Finally, in a doubleheader sweep of USA South rival N.C. Wesleyan, Long was a combined 5-for-8 with four RBI, four runs scored, one double and one home run. Also Nominated: Tiffany Brand, Maryville; Aiyana Lew, Ferrum; Sarah Connolly, Greensboro; Alison Jiles, LaGrange; Amanda White, Meredith; Abby Smith, Piedmont; Lindsay Tippett, Methodist; Tiffany Taylor, Huntingdon.

Softball Pitcher of the Week
Mary Beth Smith, Averett - The Elon, North Carolina junior appeared in five games last week, three starts, and posted a 3-0 record with one save by tossing 21.0 innings, allowing ten runs on 16 hits with 13 walks and 21 strikeouts. Each of her wins and the lone save came versus Conference competition. Versus USA South opponents, Maryville and N.C. Wesleyan, Smith allowed two runs with 19 strikeouts in 17.2 innings pitched. Additionally, at the plate, Smith was a combined 9-for-18 (.500) with ten RBI and four runs scored. Also Nominated: Amanda Roberts, Ferrum; Lauren Miller, Greensboro; Sarah Walker, Piedmont.

Lacrosse Player of the Week
Mckynsey Douglas, Piedmont - The Newnan, Georgia junior attacker tallied 15 points on 14 goals and one assist to go along with four caused turnovers , two draw controls and two ground balls as the Lions posted a 3-0 record last week. In a 24-6 win over Birmingham Southern, Douglas scored seven times with one assist, two caused turnovers, two draw controls and one ground ball. In a 9-2 victory at USA South foe Greensboro, Douglas notched two goals with one caused turnover. Finally, in a 12-7 win at USA South rival Ferrum, Douglas totaled five goals, one caused turnover and one ground ball. Also Nominated: Shannon Brown, Ferrum; Katie Burnet, Meredith.

Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Blake Forrest, Piedmont - The St. John's, Florida sophomore goalkeeper allowed 15 goals in 180 minutes played while stopping 15 shots in a 3-0 week for the Lions. In a 24-6 win over Birmingham Southern, Forrest stopped three shots and grabbed one ground ball. In a 9-2 victory over USA South foe Greensboro, Forrest did not make a save but did collect two ground balls and one caused turnover. Finally, in a 12-7 win over USA South rival Ferrum, Forrest made 12 saves, grabbed four ground balls and caused one turnover. Also Nominated: Bianca Otey, Ferrum; Danielle Lee, Meredith.

Men's Tennis Player of the Week
Matthew Harvie, Covenant - The freshman from Grayson, Georgia earned a 2-0 record at the number-one singles position and a 3-0 record at the top doubles spot last week for the Scots. His two singles victories came versus USA South competition against opponents from Greensboro and Ferrum. In doubles, he partnered with Chris Cox to collect wins over opponents from Greensboro, Ferrum and Lynchburg. Also Nominated: Robert Kjellberg, N.C. Wesleyan; Nicolas Quevedo, Averett; Matthew Metzger, Piedmont; Dillon Sullivan, Methodist. 

Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Hannah Still, Huntingdon - The senior from Wesley Chapel, Florida earned a 3-0 record at the number-one singles position and a 3-0 doubles record last week for the Hawks. In singles action, Still earned wins over opposition from Point, along with USA South foes William Peace and Meredith. In doubles play, Still teamed with Sarah Warren at the number-one position for wins over Point and William Peace, then she teamed with Caroline McBroom at the number-two spot for a victory over Meredith. Also Nominated: Gracie Smith, Covenant; Kayla Lewis, Maryville; Natalia Lopez, N.C. Wesleyan; Jessie Gomes, Averett; Cailin Goff, Meredith; Abigail Nails, William Peace; Amanda Blackwell, Piedmont.

Rookies of the Week

Baseball Rookie of the Week
Kyle Vidano, Averett - The freshman infielder from Charlottesville, Virginia went a combined 10-for-26 (.385) with seven RBI, four runs scored, two doubles and two stolen bases in a 5-1 week for the Cougars. In a doubleheader sweep of USA South foe N.C. Wesleyan, Vidano was a combined 5-for-10 with three RBI, one run scored and two doubles. In a 4-2 victory over Hampden-Sydney, Vidano was 2-for-3 with one run batted in and one run scored. In taking two out of three games from USA South rival Ferrum, Vidano was a combined 3-for-13 with three RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. In the second game of the series, a 7-6 extra-inning victory, Vidano drove in the game-winning run with a single in the tenth inning. Also Nominated: Caleb Bloye, Covenant; Colin Ford, Methodist.

Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Jared Gonzalez, Huntingdon - The Navarre, Florida freshman collected a win in a 5-2 victory over USA South foe Methodist in his only appearance on the mound last week for the Hawks. Gonzalez started the game and tossed six complete innings, allowing two runs five seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Also Nominated: Zach English, LaGrange; Drew Coker, Piedmont.

Softball Rookie of the Week
Eran Artigues, Meredith - The freshman utility player from Charleston, South Carolina went a combined 7-for-14 (.500) with five RBI, one run scored, one double and one home run in a 3-1 week for the Avenging Angels versus USA South competition. In a doubleheader sweep of Huntingdon, Artigues was a combined 3-for-7 with one run batted in. In a doubleheader split with LaGrange, Artigues was a combined 4-for-7 with four RBI, one run scored, one double and one home run. In the first game of the doubleheader, an 8-7 victory, Artigues drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Also Nominated: Kaitlyn Checkan, N.C. Wesleyan; Laura Young, Averett; Jessica Bagwell, Piedmont; Lindsey Selph, Huntingdon.

Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Courtney Rudd, Ferrum - The Burlington, North Carolina freshman posted a 3-0 record in four appearances, two starts, last week for the Panthers. In 20.0 innings pitched, Rudd compiled a 3.50 ERA by allowing ten runs on 20 hits with zero walks and 19 strikeouts. In competition versus USA South opponents, Rudd was 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA and ten strikeouts in 12.0 innings pitched. In a 6-5, eight-inning, victory over nationally-ranked Piedmont, Rudd went the distance to collect the win. Also Nominated: Logan Lowery, N.C. Wesleyan; Taylor Jackson, Meredith; Morgan Scholtz, Piedmont.

Lacrosse Rookie of the Week
Carlee Joseph, Meredith - The Hollywood, Maryland freshman attacker tallied 19 points on six goals and 13 assists to go along with eight draw controls, six ground balls and three caused turnovers. In a 12-7 loss to Lebanon Valley, Joseph scored once and added one draw control. In a 12-11 loss at Guilford, Joseph scored one goal with two assists, two ground balls, two caused turnovers and two draw controls. In a 22-2 victory over USA South foe LaGrange, Joseph totaled one goal, four assists, four draw controls, two ground balls and one caused turnover. Finally, in a 20-5 win over Huntingdon, Joseph tallied three goals, seven assists, two ground balls and one draw control. Also Nominated: Catherine Vance, Ferrum; Natalie Ritchey, Greensboro; Logan Ruck, Piedmont.

Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Matthew Harvie, Covenant - The freshman from Grayson, Georgia earned a 2-0 record at the number-one singles position and a 3-0 record at the top doubles spot last week for the Scots. His two singles victories came versus USA South competition against opponents from Greensboro and Ferrum. In doubles, he partnered with Chris Cox to collect wins over opponents from Greensboro, Ferrum and Lynchburg. Also Nominated: Nathan Metzger, Piedmont College; Carlos Lora, Averett; Andres Gomez, N.C. Wesleyan; Daniel Silva, Maryville.

Women's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Ran Zhang, Meredith - The freshman from Kumming, China earned a 2-1 record at both the number-one singles and doubles positions last week for the Avenging Angels. Her two singles victories came versus DII Chowan and USA South foe LaGrange. In doubles, she partnered with Catherine Bryant to collect wins over opponents USA South rivals LaGrange and Huntingdon. Also Nominated: Angelica Orlikowski, Averett; Annie DeLuca, Covenant; Maria Fernanda Orona, N.C. Wesleyan; Christian Wade, Piedmont.