SoaringGEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITYATHLETIC FOUNDATION

Winter 2010 - 2011

InsideMining Their Potential:Willie Powers, III and

Rory Spencer

In Their Shoes: Charlton ‘CY’ Young

Winter Sports’ Preview

The Perfect Fit:Joe Whitaker

For All the RightReasons

The men’s basketball team has their fans talking and sports’ pundits taking note. Head Coach Charlton ‘CY’ Young is building a team with such anticipated potential that everyone cannot

help but notice. Center to this stir of excitement are two senior players, both well known to Eagle followers. Willie Powers, III and Rory Spencer bring the kind

of leadership that embraces new team members with the camaraderie to accomplish great things – together through thick and thin. Even in the face of talent, they know you have to dig hard for success – an athletic gift has to be cultivated. Willie Powers, III has been playing basketball since he was three and he just loves the game and its intricacies. “It is a thinking man’s game,” says Willie. “You have to make quick decisions.” In those early years, he was drawn to Michael Jordan, and followed him from the age of four or five. His father, Willie Powers, II was a big influence, too. Currently girl’s basketball coach for Willie’s alma mater, P.K. Yonge High School in Gainesville, Florida he is admired by Willie as the father who “shaped me into the person I am today.” Basketball was not the only sport Willie played, he enjoyed football, too, growing up loving and watching the Florida Gators. But it was his father’s knowledge of the game that convinced Willie to stick with basketball. “He saw something in me,”

says Willie. “It was tough to make the change at first, but I trusted my father.” His journey from that young age of three to a key player on Georgia Southern’s team has been fraught with highs and lows. His successful high school days of championships and accolades were challenged by injuries and the loss of two important people in his life. His uncle, Carl Brown, who was a member of the P.K. Yonge team that won a state basketball championship, died in Willie’s sophomore year. Willie now wears his uncle’s former number 50 in memory of him. “Once I started to wear number 50, my career took off,” says Willie. “I dedicate my career to him.” In his senior year, a dear friend passed away, and sometime in Willie’s future, he aspires to build, in his memory, a recreation center for kids in his hometown. But Willie also has some immediate challenges. This season, he will be sitting on the sidelines due to an injury. That has not dampened his spirit or his future aspirations because he still has plans for basketball. He has weathered set-backs before. “I have been through a lot of things in my basketball career that have helped me in times like these,” says Willie. “Rehab is a race against myself. After other injuries, I have always come back with a good season.” Still considered to be the team leader, his teammates will look to him for guidance. “There

Photo of Willie PoWers, iii

by Paul abell

Mining Their Potential

Pictured right: rory sPencer

is no question that Willie will be in a leadership position this season,” says Coach Young. “We need his experience, even though he is not on the court, we need him on the sidelines and in the locker room. He is a huge part of what we do this year.” In the future, Willie hopes to have a chance at a pro basketball career. “There is no better job I can think of,” he says. And then he wants to coach, drawing on those leadership skills he has learned by doing. Throughout his career, Willie’s family has been his motivation. “For all the adversity I have been through, they have always let me know that everything will be all right.” For Rory Spencer, close-knit family support is also key to his game and influenced his decision to play for Georgia Southern. “I am big with family,” says Rory. “It would have been too hard to go far away.” Basketball gave him an outlet and his trust in family laid the groundwork for future relationships. “Basketball has helped me to trust in people – trust in others because it is a team game,” says Rory. “It is a bonding, a brotherhood and a family to me, and it has helped me to enhance my people and communication skills.” But Rory has always been able to communicate on the basketball court. He has been playing organized basketball since the ninth grade and before that, pick-up games in the neighborhood. “When I was young, my parents always wanted for me to have things to do, constructive things,” he says.

Like Willie, he too played other sports, but basketball was the game for him. “When playing basketball there is speed like no other and when you dunk the ball it is such a great feeling,” says Rory. “I just love competing and never want to lose to anyone.” Competing and perfecting his game are off-set by a desire to help people. Majoring in psychology he sees his future as a way to give back. “I want to touch people the way that I have been touched,” he says. “And I want to give back to the community where I was raised, perhaps one day as a youth counselor.” Rory’s immediate future holds plenty of other goals. “I am feeling great about this upcoming season,” he says. “There are some very talented players in the freshman class.” And they will be backed with returners who will play a big role. Playing pro basketball is also a possibility. “If I have a good senior season, working all facets of the game could mean the NBA or going overseas to play,” he says. Reflecting on his talent and where it has brought him, Rory remarks, “do something you love – definitely do it.” This motto seems to be true of both Willie and Rory who, from an early age, found their sport and polished their skills. The potential was there while family, coaches, community, and most importantly their own hard work placed them in their positions today.

Mining Their Potential

Winter Sports’ Preview

BASEBALL After losing many key positions to graduation in 2009, a number of new players had to start last season. They stepped-up and showed progress in their positions by the second half. “We had a much better team last season in the second half,” says Head Coach Rodney Hennon. “We now have guys in the right positions, the new players have more confidence and have made improvements to their game,” he adds. Going into 2011, three former newcomers are now experienced in the outfield. Finishing last season as lead-off hitter, senior Shawn Payne (above left) led the conference with 43 stolen bases and ranked as high as eighth in the nation in stolen bases. Greatly improved from his first to second year, Shawn was selected by Kansas City in its 44th round of the MLB draft, but he chose to return to school. Two sophomores, Arthur Owens and Victor Roache, have also shown substantial improvement in the outfield.

The most experienced infield player will be junior Eric Phillips

(left) who will start at short stop. “We will look to Eric for leadership,” says Hennon. There is a lot of competition

for the starting jobs for first, second and third bases.

In the catcher position, sophomore Michael Burress (left) brings extensive experience. He saw

a lot of time as a freshman, was red-shirted in 2009, but became the most improved player last year. Two junior college transfers, Jesse Piccolo and Tom Richardson will join

Michael in that position. The pitching staff

will have two weekend starters returning. Senior

Andy Moye (left) is a fifth-year senior who will give

leadership and experience to that position. Andy was

drafted on the 50th round by the Cardinals at the end of last season, but decided to finish his college education and will continue to play for the Eagles. Two juniors will also play on the Eagle pitcher’s mound. Matt Murray has been in the pitching rotation for the past two years and Colin Snow brings strength to the pitching staff. Three pitchers who contributed as freshmen and showed improvement last year are sophomores Chris Beck, Justin Hesse and Chris Meyers, all of whom will play a bigger role. Overall, new recruits have been brought in to compete for roles and to improve the pitching depth.

MEN’S BASkETBALL Head Coach Charlton ‘CY’ Young is eager for his second season at Georgia Southern to begin. According to ESPN.com, the 2010-2011 Men’s Basketball recruiting class was ranked sixth among all mid-major programs by Michael LaPlante who writes for Scouts.com. But with four returning players and five newcomers, Young believes the basketball program is still in the early stages of rebuilding. “In this second year, the team is still too young to start making any predictions,” says Young. “We have improved talent that is at the level of a nationally ranked recruiting class, but to be successful this year, the responsibility falls on the

returners.” Willie Powers III, (left)

had a great season last year and was an all-Southern Conference

selection. After a summer of hard

work he is more focused than before. Unfortunately

he has sustained an injury that will keep him on the sidelines this season. “Willie is our leader,” says Young. “Without question he will be a huge part of what we do this season. Although we will not have him on the court, we need his

experience on the sidelines and in the locker room.” We will look for him on the court next year. Rory Spencer (in the heading, right), a talented power forward who was inconsistent last season, must rectify that this year. “Rory is one of the most talented interior players in our league,” says Young. According to Young, both Willie and Rory have the ability to go on to professional status. “They have the chance to play for

money – what level will depend on them and how hard they work,” states

Young. Junior Ben Drayton (left) continues to improve each year and according to Young, “he is becoming a better basketball player every day.”

Coming off a wonderful freshman campaign is sophomore Cameron Baskerville (in the

heading, left). “Cameron has really worked hard on his skill level and body for this season,” says Young. “He is much improved.” Senior Johntavious Rucker will return in January to round out the group of experienced players who have worked hard this summer on their individual games. And along with the newcomers, “who will breathe new life into the team,” Young steps eagerly into a new season.

WOMEN’S BASkETBALL After losing four seniors to graduation last year, a big goal for women’s basketball is the development of the team’s youth. There are five newcomers and four sophomores equaling nine players at key positions who are very young. “They must learn their roles early,” says Head Coach Rusty Cram. “They will be in the school of hard knocks to gain experience.” Of the four seniors who were lost last year, three had been starters for three years. “They cannot be replaced overnight,” remarks Cram. “The positive side is that when you lose that many players, new careers can begin.” The Eagles are known for having a strong schedule at the beginning of the season and it is no different this year. With five freshmen new to the court, it will become a testing ground for them. The initial games are usually strong competition to welcome the freshmen to Division I basketball. The first game is in Athens on November 14th, then Alabama followed by SMU at Thanksgiving. “We will know where our freshmen stand after the first three or four games,” remarks Cram.

There are several key players to watch. Senior Jamie Navarro (left) is the team leader, captain and the coach on the

floor. “The year will go as Jamie goes,” says Cram. Junior Krista Tate (above left), a swing player, is one of the best defensive players in the conference with plenty of experience. According to Cram, “we will call on her to produce.” Starting off and on for the last two years, junior Samantha Williams has had a lot of experience and it is time for her to

come off the bench. Big things are expected from sophomore Meredith Frye (left) who showed signs of great potential as a freshman. In general, work is needed on the positions game and this will be a big question at the beginning of the season. Of returners, junior Candice Ivy and sophomore Briana Scott, and

freshmen, Danielle Spencer and Aishya Wofford, two will need to surface in their positions.

SOFTBALL Last season, the SoCon championship participation was cut from eight to four teams, but this added challenge did not keep the Georgia Southern softball team from accomplishing their goal of making it to the tournament where they came in third. This season, they continue to fight for their goal of a championship run. “The staff and the team are excited and have high expectations. We are a group of people who are willing to work to get there,” says Head Coach Maggie Johnson. Senior pitchers Megen Smith (above) and Brianna Streetmon (above right) are among those to watch this year. Megen, also considered to be the team’s best hitter, shows great leadership and is competitive with the added benefit of being able to play any position in the field if needed. “The goal is always to get her on the field – that represents another bat in the lineup. With her on the field and in the lineup, we can play with a higher degree of intensity,” says Johnson. Brianna has been named SoCon pitcher of the year two times and will be pitching a lot of innings this year. “Brianna will be leading from the mound where the game really starts,” says Johnson. “She is a leader who expects a lot from the team behind her.”

Two freshmen pitchers, Sarah Purvis and Allie Miles, will complement the two senior pitchers. In the outfield, junior Marie Fogle (right) returned from her injury last season to give spark to the team in the two series before the SoCon tournament. Two seasons ago she was freshman of the year. Juniors Hanna Ennis (right) and MacKenzie Williams (below right) are also to be watched. Hanna is the most consistent defensive player in the infield – “a real team anchor,” according to Johnson. MacKenzie caught most games last year, and has honed her game and skill level. “Not only has she learned the game, but she has learned how to control the game,” says Johnson. Taking on the consistent role of designated hitter or pinch-hitter last year, sophomore Andrea Tarashuk (below right) is expected to fill some of the roles left by graduated seniors. “She is good under pressure and can step into an everyday role. She is a utility player who can hit,” says Johnson. “We have a lot of talent so there is a lot of competition for a starting position on the team,” remarks Johnson. “Team members will have to fight for positions.”

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In Their Shoes

“I know what it feels like to be in

these kids’ shoes.”

– CHARLTON ‘CY’ YOUNG

Charlton ‘CY’ Young has traveled the student-athlete road himself. Once a talented high school basketball player receiving floods of

recruitment letters and scholarship offers, he knows first-hand about the analytical, and often emotional, process of picking a school that qualifies as a personal fit. “I know what

it feels like to be in these kids’ shoes,” says CY.

He remembers wanting to attend a school that was part of a college town, a town

that moved at its own pace, yet enhanced by the dynamics of a university. “The whole town of Statesboro revolves around the university,” says CY. “But it is still a small town and forces you to slow down.” So back in 1989, he eagerly picked Georgia Southern as his basketball ‘home.’ Statesboro’s small town spirit drew fans to him who were more than random folks who came to the games. Far away from his family, locals embraced him and supported him in ways other than cheering on game day. Those big-hearted supporters made certain that he felt welcomed.

But back in Miami, his parents were feeling the loss. On the day he was born, his father, a little league coach, put a basketball and a football in his crib. Although football was more natural to CY, he trained to play the best basketball he could. “I loved both sports equally, but when I became long and skinny, I knew I had to focus on basketball,” says CY. “In my heart, I knew I was going to be a point person.” Eventually, his parents moved from Miami to Alabama making travel to his games easier. Supported by family, the warmth of small town fans, and a natural ability to play basketball, CY excelled at his sport. From a stellar college experience, he went on to play professionally in France and coach at other schools before coming back to Georgia Southern. Now, he is in the head coach’s shoes, a spot he claims to have always wanted. He scans the countryside for basketball talent, looking for players with the passion and the heart to play at the level to which he once committed. “When I recruit a player, I have to have a connection with them – I have to believe in them,” says CY. “After all, this is my school,” he beams.

In Their Shoes

With his second season about under way, CY admits that the team is still in the early stages of rebuilding, although outfitted with players who have natural ability and the passion to excel. “Our improved talent is at the level of a nationally ranked recruiting class,” claims CY. That, with the skilled and experienced returners on whom much of the success of the season will fall, will make a team to watch this season – an Eagle team built and coached with the spirit and passion of a former young basketball player who knows the game from very personal experience.

Camer

on Baskerville

CY playing for GSU in 1989.

The Perfect Fit

Joe Whitaker is a sports’ fan – actually, pretty much just a football fan – and he is very clear that Georgia Southern is his football team of choice. “I am mainly a football man,” he says.

“I am happy and satisfied with Georgia Southern and the level of football at which they play.” With an undeniable clarity in his choices, Joe is a man where precision and the measurement of things has been particularly critical in his work. He is the founder and president of Whitaker Laboratory in Savannah. Whitaker Laboratory is the workplace for geotechnical engineers, and testing and environmental consultants and it employs over 30 people. It serves the Eastern seaboard from Charleston, South Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida. This year, in addition to celebrating a successful business for 40 years, the company was named the 2010 Small Business of the Year by the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce. Originally from southwest Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains, Joe spent two years at the University of Virginia before entering the Army where he did bacteriological work. From the Army, he went to work at the Parker Laboratory

in Charleston, South Carolina where he primarily did chemical work. His move to Savannah was to open a satellite office for Parker Laboratory in 1963. In 1970, he ventured out on his own and opened Whitaker Laboratory. He claims to have gotten into his type of work because, according to him, “I needed a job.” So it was in the ‘60’s when Joe was travelling to Statesboro for work projects when he discovered Georgia Southern which, back then, was a smaller school of perhaps 4000 students. Some years later, the Eagles and Erk Russell began to make headlines, and he knew he had found his football team. “Most of the growth of the school is due to Erk Russell, in my opinion,” says Joe. “There is no question about it, Erk put Georgia Southern on the map across the state and nationally.” Then the school became the college of choice for his family. Son, Joseph, daughter, Laura Whitaker Brindle, daughter-in-law, Cindy Dunkin Whitaker and grandson Joseph Michael Whitaker are all Georgia Southern graduates. But according to Joe, he and his wife, Hilda, are the true-blue fans. They have been going

“There is no question about it, Erk put Georgia

Southern on the map across the state and

nationally....I am happy and satisfied with Georgia

Southern and the level of football at which they

play.” – Joe Whitaker

to the games since the Erk Russell era and have memorized the road between their home in Tybee Beach and the stadium. Being a college football fan is more to Joe than winning games. “I feel that the first priority for the student-athletes is to get a college education – to graduate with a degree,” remarks Joe. “When you come down to it, it is just a game and certain things you take seriously while others you don’t sweat it.” The education of young talent is a serious matter to Joe. In January 2006, he gifted a football

running back position through the Whitaker Family Endowment. Joe had taken a step back in the business and his son, Joseph, Vice President of Whitaker Laboratory, took over the running of the company. When the business was being transferred to his son, the opportunity to fund the endowment gift was presented. With the transition of the business, funds became available through tax incentives that enabled the gift to be made. His gift is one of six endowed football positions and one of 17 fully-funded athletic-

endowed positions donated to the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation. The interest income is used as part of the overall commitment to athletic scholarships and the foundation’s annual payment to the athletics department. According to Joe, Georgia Southern football is played at a level that he can support. “I will watch bigger colleges, but I prefer the size of Georgia Southern. It seems that they are true sportsmen and not so commercial,” he remarks. “The bigger schools are just farm systems for the pros.” For Joe, “Southern just fits.”

For All the Right Reasons

One hundred and fifty-two Georgia Southern student-athletes, a record number for the school since joining the

Southern Conference in 1992, earned a spot on the 2009-2010 SoCon Academic Honor Roll by achieving at least a 3.0 GPA or above. Teams worthy of note are Football with 25 student-athletes earning the honor, Baseball and Women’s Swimming and Diving each with 17 student-athletes selected, and Women’s Track and Field with 14 student-athletes named to the honor role. Of all the teams represented, 63 student athletes were awarded the Commissioner’s Medal by earning at least a 3.5 GPA, and six Eagles earned 4.0 GPAs. The league’s athletic directors established the Academic Honor Roll prior to the 1988-1989 season. Student-athletes must maintain a 3.0 GPA while passing 24 credit hours in two semesters of classes or its equivalent for other academic calendars.

The 2009-2010 Georgia Southern Swimming and Diving team was recognized by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) for earning Scholar All-American Team honors for the spring 2010 semester with a team grade point average (GPA) of 3.32. It is the sixth straight semester that the Eagles have been honored as a CSCAA Scholar All-American Team. The CSCAA ranks all Division I teams twice a year, once after each semester. The teams receive a distinction of CSCAA Scholar All-American for posting a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. Pictured above from left, front row (left to right): Rachel Sale, Alden Lynch, Brittany Crisp, Rachael Stockwell, Anna Pudik, Lauren Parr, Jordyn Pasley, Kristen Haudenschild, Kristin Celii Back row (left to right): Laurie Stephens, Bailey Cartwright, Caitlin Martin, Ali Campbell, Meredith Fehr, Lindsay Goodman, Ashley White, Caroline Bevillard, Courtney Martz, Alex Mitchell, Katie Crider, Emily Fell, Holly Hirsch, Pirie Humphries

The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) awarded the Georgia Southern Golf team All-Academic honors for the spring 2010 semester by earning a cumulative team GPA of 3.53. Golf teams must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher to earn the All-Academic Team recognition. Pictured above, back row (left to right): Head Coach Larry Mays, Coleman Calhoun, Ryan Zabroske, Logan Blondell, Joe Monte, Spence Fulford, Assistant Coach Carter Collins. Front row (left to right): Florian Sander, T.J. Holley, Matt Deal, Thomas Sharkey

For All the Right Reasons

SoaringWelcome to the 4th edition of the georgia southern university athletic foundation’s quarterly newsletter, Soaring.

as an organization, we are committed to bringing you the original content, feature articles and sports highlights that

keep you connected with our program.

The 2009-2010 Georgia Southern Women’s Tennis team was named an ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) All-Academic Team for Division I women’s athletics. Five Eagles were also named ITA Scholar-Athletes. This is the third honor for the team which also earned the award in 2004 and 2009, under the guidance of Head Coach Amy Bonner. To be eligible for the academic award, an ITA program must have a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or better for the current academic year. The GSU women’s tennis team earned a cumulative team GPA of 3.33 for the 2009-2010 academic year. Pictured above, front row (left to right): Jessica Fuller, Kristi Kegerreis, Natalie Maffett, Taylor Jones. Back row (left to right): Melanie Rolle, Ali Beavers, Ashley Hungerford, Christine Caforio, Allison Beeler, Alexandra Langmo

John MulherinPresidentjohnmul@georgiasouthern.edu

Lucas StuckeyEagle Fund Directorlstuckey@georgiasouthern.edu

Kathryn BryantOffice Managerkathrynbryant@georgiasouthern.edu

Dee ParkerRecords Managerdparker@georgiasouthern.edu

Kay ShumanAthletic Ticket Managerkayshu@georgiasouthern.edu

Writer/Editor: Bonnie Jaeger Graphic Design: Hilde Keldermans Photographers: Frank Fortune, SoCon Photos, Willis Glassgow, Jeff Herndon and Suzanne Oliver.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC FOUNDATION

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P.O. BOX 8115-01, STATESBORO, GEORGIA 30460-8115

1-912-478-5520 • www.ringsanddiplomas.com

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