SPORTS
Simons Coach of the Year
By Michael Roberts
Editor-in-Chief
St. Andrews head basket
ball coach Mark Simons has
been named the Carolines
Conference Coach of the
Year, as voted on by the
other coaches in the league.
Picked by most to finish last
in the conference, Simons
coached the Knights to a 16-
12 record, and a third place
finish. The Knights man
aged to beat every team in
the conference, and held on
to first place late in the sea
son.
Simons gives much credit
to his assistant coach, Steve
Hawkins. "I consider this a
"Coaches of the Year
Award," said Simons. "Ste
ve understands the game.
He gets along great with the
players, and he is a great
communicator."
Simons also commented
that he has been lucky to get
the players that he had this
year. "I just feel real fortu-
nated to have the players we
have," he said, "They work
hard all the time, and they
never give up. Each of them
knows their role, and plays
that role really well."
Simons said that he is
obviously disappointed at
the tournament loss to
Belmont Abbey, but still
feels his team had a good
year. "I said before the sea
son, that if we got sixteen
victories, it would be a suc
cessful year. And despite
some really close losses and
a lot of injuries, we managed
to do it," said Simons.
Looking forward to next
year, Simons says the future
is bright. "Wendell (Staton)
and Salt (David Saltman) will
be hard to replace, but we
have a good nucleus, and
some good returning play
ers," he said.
Staton and Saltman will
graduate this year after
spending three years in the
program. "Wendell was the
"glue" of the team. He pro
vided the leadership and the
maturity. He always gave all
he had," sai d Simons. "Salt
was just a great shooter. He
knew his role and played
within himself. With any
daylight at all,he could knock
it down. Salt is a product of
hard work, and he’s the best
shooter I've ever coached,"
he said.
Starters Erik Shelton.
I^ark English, John Davis,
and Shawn Colquiett will be
returning next year, a pros
pect that has Simons smil
ing. "English is an extension
of my coaching philosophy,"
said Simons. "He makes
great decisions, and takes
what is given. I want the ball
in his hands at crunch time."
Simons added that he felt
that the guard combination
of English and Shelton was
the best in the league.
"Shelton is a great offensive
player, and can be a great
defensive player. I'm glad to
have these two back for
another year," he remarked.
"There are few players
around as good as John
Davis," said Simons, com
menting on his junior center.
"Coaches aroundthe league
recognize John's talent, and
they set their defense to
stop him." Simons added
that with the expected
improvement of Freshman
All-Conference
^ s
Erik Shelton
By Michael Roberts
Editor-In-Chief
Junior Guard Erik Shelton,
of Durham, NC has been
selected to the Carolinas
Conference All-Conference
Team.
Shelton averaged over 18
points per game to lead the
Knights. He also lead the
Knights in assists and was
second in rebounding.
Shelton led the Knights in
field goals attempted, field
goals made, and shooting
percentage.
Along with being a three-
year starter, Shelton passed
the 1,000 point milestone
this season.
Coach Mark Simons
Shawn Colquiett and the tal
ent of Lawson Smith, the
inside game also looks
bright. "Shawn has shown a
really good work ethic.
Lawson is just a great
player. With these two and
the helpof Joe Bell, it's going
to be exciting," he said.
Equestrians
Host Show
By Pam Whitfield
Contributing
St. Andrews Equestrian
Team hosted a Region IV
Intercollegiate Horse Show
on Monday at Singing Wood
Farm. St. Andrews riders
won several classes, with
Mary Tolle and Michele De-
vignez earning blue ribbons.
Shea Rollins, Malinda Grice,
and Suzi Riecke all placed
second in their divisions,
with the latter two
riding over fences. Both
Chrissie Sabia and Malinda
Grice placed in Novice on
the Flat to qualify them for
the Regional Champion
ships. Mary Tolle, Julia
Padgett, and Suzi Riecke
are also capable of regional
qualification after the Rer-
rum College Horse Show in
April.
The show results for ear
lier competitions at Virginia
Intermont College on Febru
ary 9 and then Southern
Seminary College on Febru
ary 16 are as follows, by
division:
Suzi Riecke, Intermediate
on the Flat 6th and 2nd; over
Fences 4th and 3rd. Pam
Whitfield, Novice on the Flat
5th and over Fences 6th.
Patty Wheeler, Novice on
the Flat 3rd. Malinda Grice,
Novice on the Flat 2nd and
6th; over Fences 6th and
6th. Lee Henon, Novice on
the Flat 5th and 6th. The
remaining riders are all in the
Walk/Trot/Canter division;
Heather Signor, 4th and 5th.
Helen Shamburger, 2nd and
3rd. Mary Tolle, 3rd Shea
Rollins, 1st. Lea Rach, 2nd
and 2nd. Julia Padgett, 1st
and 5th.