September 9,2005 1 The Clarion
Sports
Page 11
Brevard hires new tennis coach
by Angelita Colon-Francia
Asst. Dir. of Public Relations
Brevard College has hired Paul
Thomson as head coach of the College’s
men’s and women’s tennis program. He
comes to Brevard from
Samford University in Bir
mingham, Alabama, where
as assistant men’s and
women’s tennis coach, he
helped lead the men’s team
to the 2005 Ohio Valley
Conference (OVC) regular
season championship and
runner-up finish at the
2005 OVC men’s tourna
ment. Under Thomson’s
leadership, Samford’s v
women’s team finished last
season in fifth place and
were fourth in the OVC
women’s tournament. He
also served as the assistant director of
Samford’s Bulldog Tennis Camps.
“I am excited about building success
ful men’s and women’s teams,” Thomson
said. “Brevard College’s men’s team has a
lot of potential for success with the play
ers we have. I am looking forward to build
ing a women’s program from the ground
up and to quickly recruiting student-ath-
letes.”
Since 2001, Thomson has served as a
U.S. Tennis Association team
coach. Prior to joining the staff
at Samford, he worked as an as
sistant tennis pro at Dothan
Country Club in Dothan, Ala
bama. In his three years as the
women’s varsity tennis coach
at McAdory High School in
McCalla, Alabama, he compiled
a 24-17 record and led the team
to its first state tournament and
top 10 ranking in school history.
He also worked as the Jefferson
County Girls tournament direc
tor in Alabama.
Thomson is a Professional
Tennis Registry (PTR) certified
professional tennis instructor. He earned a
bachelor’s degree from Samford in history
and political science with a minor in psy
chology and counseling. He is a native of
Birmingham, Alabama
Fall sports
ready for start
Can our baseball team catch a break?
by Kathryn McDade
Sports Editor
As the 2006 spring season rapidly ap
proaches, our head-coachless baseball
team has us wondering if the season will
strike out.
Former Head Coach and Athletic Di
rector, Gill Payne resigned from his posi
tion leaving our boys baseball team bat
ting solo. However, players are putting forth
the effort just as they would in any other
season.
Talon Rawls, a freshman player says,
“As a team, this has given us the chance
to step up and the seniors have been given
the chance to become the leaders they are.’
Nathan Free, also a freshman, carries the
same positive disposition about the issue.
“I don’t think we are affected by it. 1 mean.
we’re out there running, batting, and throw
ing just like any other team.”
In the event a coach can not be found,
the team has come to the consensus that
their Graduate Assistant Coach Mabe will
become the head coach.
When asked if they felt like they would
catch a break, players responded with a
heartily astonishing response. No, they
don’t think they will, and frankly, they
don’t want to. They want to make their own
opportunities out of the situation at hand.
Coach Mabe has a slightly different re
sponse. “When you sign up to play base
ball at Brevard College, you sign up to play
your best on and off the field. This means
that despite the coaching situation you
have to play your hardest regardless. Will
we catch a break this season? Yeah, and
we will win as many games as possible.”
The Clarion needs photographers and
writers to cover Brevard College sports.
Let us know if you are interested, clarion@brevard.edu
2005 is sure to bring an exciting year
for Brevard College’s fall sports lineup, as
the teams look to improve on last year’s
accomplishments, build team strength
through a number of new recruits, and for
mulate a winnmg atmosphere on campus
as they competc in their final season in the
National Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics (NAIA).
The Tornado Cross Country teams
look poised to take the programs back to
the glory days under third year coach Tho
mas Cason.
The women’s team looks to improve
upon a second place regional finish, and
eyes the possibility of qualifying for NAIA
Nationals. The team returns a top 2004
National Qualifier, senior Danielle Deines-
Raduly. The team also expects great per
formances from key returning runners like
junior captain Sara Harris Key newcomers
include Emily Hulse, a transfer from Jack
sonville State final birth in the Appalachian
Athletic Conference Tournament with the
addition of 15 new players, including five
European recruits from Sweden, England,
Scotland, and Wales. The Tornadoes
opened their season on August 27“' with a
3-3 draw against NCAA Division II oppo
nent Limestone College. The men then beat
North Greenville College I -0 four days later
and continued their undefeated streak on
Saturday, September 3'“' with a 0-0 draw at
home against North Georgia College. The
team will open conference play on Wednes
day, September T" at home against rivals
Virginia Intermont College. 2005 will be an
exciting season for the Tornadoes as they
look to qualify for NAIA regional play for
the first time in school history.
Finally, the Lady Tornadoes volleyball
team is working hard and starting to play
like a team, according to coach Brenda
Skeffington. “We’re going to have a great
improvement on last years accomplish
ments,” Coach Skeffington said. The team
goal is to make it to the regional tourna
ment. This will be the last year competing
at the NAIA level and, according to Coach
Skeffington, it is the three seniors’ year to
shine. Key returning players for the Lady
Tornadoes are junior Marquessa Chappell,
senior Beth McGowan, and senior Sandy
Tabor. “As the team plays more and more
together things are only going to get bet
ter and better,” Coach Skeffington said.