UMO receives conference honors

By UMO Media Relations
Published in Sports on May 29, 2016 1:47 AM

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UMO Media Relations

HIGH POINT -- University of Mount Olive received three Messick Sportsmanship Awards, had several scholar athletes recognized and school President Dr. Philip R. Kerstetter earned a prestigious honor.

Kerstetter earned the Heritage Award, presented to administrators who have dedicated meritorious service to Conference Carolinas. In 2010, Kersetter was appointed as chair of the Conference Carolinas Presidents Committee.

He will represent the league for a four-year term with the NCAA Division II Presidents Council.

Three Trojan teams -- men's golf, men's outdoor track and field and women's outdoor track and field -- each garnered Messick Award accolades. Team awards are determined upon the conclusion of league play. Conference coaches and student-athletes work together to vote on the opposing conference members they believe to have best demonstrated the qualities of sportsmanship throughout the season.

UMO's Emily Shaw, Nick Greyno, Luke Morris and Kelsey Akers were named Conference Carolinas scholar athletes-of-the-year for their respective sports.

All-Southeast

MOUNT OLIVE -- A total of 16 University of Mount Olive athletes were selected to the NCAA Division II outdoor track and field all-Southeast Region team, which is voted upon by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Adam Craig, Jonathan Dahlke, Jonno Engleking, Nick Greyno, Aki Kitigawa, Austin Steagall and Jacob Urys were the men's selections.

Representing the Trojan women were Khadijah Kale, Ayanna King, Alexis McNeil, Mictasha Mickle, Tunisia Prince, Nichole Poppe and Kelsey Valentine.

Hawn Cup

HIGH POINT -- University of Mount Olive claimed the Joby Hawn Cup in Conference Carolinas men's competition for the third consecutive year.

The Trojans collected 78 of a possible 93 points.

UMO logged bonus points in six of 10 sponsored sports after securing conference titles in cross country, baseball, tennis and outdoor track and field. The men's tennis team advanced to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional for the third consecutive year, the baseball team made its seventh straight postseason appearance and the lacrosse team advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history.

On the women's side, the Trojans placed second and posted bonus points in four sports -- cross country, indoor track and field, lacrosse and outdoor track and field.

University of Mount Olive, for the second straight year, finished runner-up in the overall Cup standings. The Trojans had seven tournament champions that included men's and women's cross country, women's indoor track to go along with the program's title success in the spring.

The Trojans logged a .887 rating.

Limestone repeated as the Hawn Cup champ.

The Cup is named in honor of former Commissioner H.C. "Joby" Hawn for his many years of service to Conference Carolinas.