Nighthawks compile strong spring seasons

The University of North Georgia's (UNG) athletics teams keep racking up major accomplishments this spring.

For the first time in program history, the men's golf team has punched its ticket to the NCAA Division II national championship. The Nighthawks earned a spot in the May 16-20 national event at TPC Michigan in Dearborn by tying for third at the South/Southeast Regional held May 5-7 at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Georgia.

UNG shot a 4-under 860, highlighted by shooting the lowest round of the final day at 5-under 283. The strong performance allowed UNG to advance out of a regional that featured 13 of the nation's top 20 teams.

"I'm incredibly proud of these guys for qualifying out of the toughest region in the country and for earning the opportunity to compete for a national championship," men's golf head coach Bryson Worley said. "Coming from behind and shooting the low round of the day in Saturday's conditions is a small representation of their championship mindset and their ability to handle the pressure."

Individually, Evan Thompson finished in a four-way tie for third place at 6-under, while Stephen Kinsel climbed 40 spots on the leaderboard with a final-round 6-under 66 to finish one shot behind Thompson in solo seventh.

Worley was Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year, and Thompson took home first-team All-PBC honors. Kinsel was second-team All-PBC.

I'm incredibly proud of these guys for qualifying out of the toughest region in the country and for earning the opportunity to compete for a national championship.

Bryson Worley

UNG men's golf head coach

UNG faces No. 6 seed Carson-Newman University on May 12, with No. 2 seed Lenoir-Rhyne and No. 7 seed Wingate University also playing each other that day.

"Our pitching staff as a group has developed each time they step on the field and really complement and support each other. Many of our position players have waited their turn to have an impact on this team, and they are seeing the reward of all the work they've put in over the last year or two," softball head coach Mike Davenport said. "We've had a different type of journey this season, but that's what makes it so rewarding to see kids who have worked so hard while they've waited on their opportunity to put it all together for the greater good of the team."

Kristen Davis tossed a one-hitter with four strikeouts to earn the shutout victory in the championship.

Davenport was named PBC Coach of the Year, and Davis was PBC Co-Pitcher of the Year. Haley Cummings and Jolie Lester joined Davis as first-team All-PBC selections. Hannah Forehand, Mallory Parker, Madison Simmons and Olivia Sinquefield were each second-team All-PBC.

Other highlights this spring have been:

• The track and field team took second place, its highest finish ever, at the PBC championship, led by a second straight conference title from Journey Gurley in the pole vault and a gold medal for Audrey Gleason in the 3,000 steeplechase. UNG will compete at nationals May 26-28 in Allendale, Michigan.
• Women's golfer Maddie Ananthasane won the PBC individual championship for the second year in a row and was PBC Player of the Year. She then tied for 46th at the South Regional.
• The women's tennis team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, tallying a 15-5 overall record and a 6-1 mark in PBC regular-season play. Head coach Kent Norsworthy was PBC Coach of the Year as the team spent most of the season in the top 10 nationally, with Vaishali Jorge a first-team All-PBC performer, Claudelle Labonté Frey and Johanna Lippert second-team All-PBC, and Jorge and Labonté Frey second-team All-PBC in doubles.
• The men's tennis team, which has also been in the national top 10 for most of the spring, opened the NCAA tournament with a win May 9 against Wingate University in St. Augustine, Florida. The Nighthawks face Flagler at 1 p.m. May 10 in the second round. Joaquin Benoit and Ryan Gaskin were All-PBC individually and as a doubles pair.
• The UNG baseball team finished 31-20 overall and 16-11 in the PBC, good for sixth in the league before falling to Georgia Southwestern State University in the PBC tournament opening round. Crews Taylor was named Player of the Year, with Jake Arnold and Pierce Williams second-team All-PBC and Jacob Lassiat earning the Elite 16 top GPA award for PBC baseball.