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A Winning Season; A Winning Culture

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah State's 2021-2022 athletic season was one for the history books.
 
On May 25, Savannah State Athletics Director Opio Mashariki stood behind the rostrum at the Savannah City Council meeting and addressed the council during a special presentation.
 
"There's a lot that goes into being able to win championships…" Mashariki said in his address. "These accomplishments mean our student-athletes and coaches are doing what's necessary, not only athletically, but academically."
 
The special presentation was added to the council's agenda to honor Savannah State Athletics for the 2021-2022 season of successes. Savannah State President Kimberly Ballard-Washington, Mashariki, head coaches Cedric Baker, Horace Broadnax, Ted Whitaker, Charles Keenan and Christopher Miller joined student-athletes Eleik and Elavian Bowels and Kayla Chance for the presentation.
 
Every one of Savannah State's 15 sports earned impressive accolades during the year. The Tigers not only brought home a nice haul of hardware, but they saw historic record-breaking seasons, fielded some of the best athletes in the conference and NCAA Division II, and most importantly excelled in their academic pursuits.
 
All-together, Savannah State Athletics won four Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championships, earned three SIAC Player of the Year awards, two SIAC Coach of the Year Awards, 43 All-SIAC honors and 25 SIAC weekly/monthly awards.
 
On the academics side, 39 student-athletes earned degrees, nine of which graduated with honors. Of the entire student-athlete body, 108 finished with a 3.0 GPA or better, 49 of those finished with a 3.5-4.0 GPA.
 
Korbin Allan, from men's golf, was recognized at the 200th Savannah State Commencement in early May as the top undergraduate of the class, earning his degree in biology with a 3.94 GPA, graduating Summa Cum Laude.  
 
There was plenty of hardware for the Tigers this season, but earning the top individual conference awards was huge for several coaches and players.
 
Kayla Chance was named the 2021 SIAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year following her explosive championship run and title.
 
Women's Basketball Head Coach Cedric Baker was named the 2021-2022 SIAC Coach of the Year for his team's regular season 25-1 record and 14-1 SIAC record.
 
Baseball Head Coach Carlton Hardy earned SIAC Coach of the Year following his team's domination of the conference with a 33-10 regular season record and a 28-2 conference mark.
 
Joe Smith was named the SIAC Baseball Player of the Year, after leading the conference and the NCAA Division II with a .470 batting average. He was later named American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Region First Team.
 
Gabrielle Benn was named the 2022 SIAC Player of the Year finishing undefeated in the first court singles action against conference opponents. Overall, she finished 11-2 in the first court and 7-6, 6-1 in doubles action.
 
"It proves you can get anywhere from here," Mayor Van Johnson said in his introduction of the special presentation on May 26, echoing the school's motto. "It appears we've gone through the SIAC and they know who we are."
 
Regardless of divisional or conference affiliation, historically Savannah State Athletics wins championships.
 
If you stroll down the hallway in Tiger Arena past the trophy cases you'll find NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe's retired jersey surrounded by countless trophies, spanning over the many seasons of Savannah State Athletics.
 
Savannah State is a proving ground for champions, creating a winning culture through the decades. It is the starting place for athletes now competing in Major League Baseball, semi-professional football and professional basketball leagues all over the world, as well as countless student-athletes who earned their degree and went on to successful careers.
 
The 2021-2022 season only added to the trophy case that has already been filled by excellent teams and student-athletes in Savannah State's 119-year athletic history.
 
Expect more of the same for the 120th year of Savannah State Athletics coming this September.
 
 
Full list of athletic accomplishments and awards during 2021-2022 season:
 
Baseball
  • Finished 34-12, 28-2 SIAC 
  • SIAC Regular Season Championship Title 
  • Joe Smith, SIAC Player of the Year
  • Carlton Hardy, SIAC Coach of the Year
  • First Team All-SIAC: Joe Smith, Jose Santiago, Jared Showalter, Enrico Peele, Dwayne Franklin
  • Second Team All-SIAC: Gabriel Patxot, Rahmir Vaughn
  • Enrico Peele, SIAC Pitcher of the Week (4/25)
  • Joe Smith, SIAC Player of the Week (4/25)
  • Jared Showalter, SIAC Pitcher of the Week (4/4)
  • Jose Santiago, SIAC Pitcher of the Week (3/21)
  • Jose Santiago, SIAC Pitcher of the Week (3/14)
  • Champion Robbins, SIAC Player of the Week (3/1)
  • Enrico Peele, SIAC Pitcher of the Week (3/1)
  • Enrico Peele, SIAC Pitcher of the Week (2/21)
 
Men's Basketball
  • SIAC Championship Title
  • Earned fourth trip to NCAA Championship in program history
  • Marcus Scott, SIAC Championship Game MVP
  • All-SIAC Preseason Second Team: Trey DeLoach
  • Trey DeLoach, HBCU All-Star Game Appearance 
 
Women's Basketball
  • SIAC Regular Season East Division Championship
  • SIAC Championship Runner-Up
  • Finished 27-3, 16-1 SIAC
  • Tied the school record for most season wins in program history
  • Earned program's third trip to NCAA Tournament
  • Secured second at-large bid to NCAA Tournament in school history
  • Set a new school record for most consecutive wins to open a season 14-0
  • Earned the program's highest poll rankings: No. 12 WBCA Coaches Poll; No. 24 D2SIDA Media Poll; No. 6 NCAA South Region Poll
  • Cedric Baker, SIAC Coach of the Year
  • All-SIAC First Team: Bria Gibbs
  • All-SIAC Second Team: Le'Andrea Gillis
  • Bria Gibbs, SIAC Player of the Week (1/18)
  • Ta'Quasia Lampkin, SIAC Newcomer of the Week (1/18)
  • Le'Andrea Gillis, SIAC Player of the Week (1/11)
  • Bria Gibbs, SIAC Player of the Week (12/14)
  • All-SIAC Preseason First Team: Le'Andrea Gillis
  • All-SIAC Preseason Second Team: Amari Heard
 
Cross Country
  • Kayla Chance, 2021 SIAC Women's Cross Country Individual Title
  • Kayla Chance, 2021 SIAC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year
  • All-SIAC: Kayla Chance
  • Kayla Chance, new school record (18:47) in the 5K at Queen City Invite
  • Kayla Chance, SIAC Cross Country Runner of the Week
 
Football
  • Finished 8-2; First eight win season since 1994
  • All-SIAC First Team: Connor Vasher, Einaj Carter
  • All-SIAC Second Team: Kyle Fraizer, Makenly Newbill, Marvin Grunshie, Ny'em Bozeman, Kenneth Lockhart
  • D'Vonn Gibbons SIAC Offensive Player of the Week (9/20)
  • Kenneth Lockhart SIAC Special Teams Player of the Week (9/20)
  • Brendan Jackson SIAC Newcomer of the Week (10/5)
  • Makenly Newbill SIAC Defensive Player of the Week (10/18)
  • D'Angelo Durham SIAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
  • All-SIAC Preseason First Team: Harvey King, Cameron M. Brown, Ny'em Bozeman, D'Armani Ridley, Einaj Carter.
  • All-SIAC Preseason Second Team: Connor Vasher, Dylan McCloud, Salik McCrae, Walter Yates, Einaj Carter, D'Angelo Durham
 
Men's Golf
  • Runner-up team bracket Division II Gulf Shores Invitational
  • Korbin Allan, three top ten finishes
  • Nicholas Macsuga, three top ten finishes
  • Korbin Allan, medalist Alabama Spring Classic
  • Korbin Allan, SIAC Golfer of the Month (March, 2022)
 
Women's Golf
  • Won Gulf Shores Invitational Division II team bracket
  • Ja'Davia McCallum, runner-up Wildcat Mardi Gras Invite
  • Joined the Peach Belt Conference (PBC)
  • Competed in a conference championship for first time in program history
  • Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Golf Sportsmanship Award
 
Softball
  • Earned first post-season bid since 2018
  • Ranked No. 6 in preseason HBCU Softball poll
  • Da'Ondalyn Simmons, SIAC Player of the Week (4/25)
  • All-SIAC Second Team: Casey Sims, Morgan Green
 
Tennis
  • Runner-up SIAC Championship
  • First winning season in two decades (14-7 overall record)
  • First post-season bid in two decades (11-3 SIAC record)
  • Gabrielle Benn, SIAC Player of the Year
  • All-SIAC Team: Gabrielle Benn, Amarila Benne, Julia Ramos Bentham
  • Gabrielle Benn, SIAC Player of the Week (3/30)
  • Gabrielle Benn, SIAC Player of the Week (3/16)
  • Sarah Joachim, Venus Ubiebi, ITA All-Academic Honors
 
Track & Field
  • Kayla Chance, new school record 1 mile event
  • Sadrea Mabry, new personal record, top mark in SIAC, triple jump
  • Jahvene Walder, new personal best 200m
  • Simone Johnson, new personal best 1500m
  • Toni Pellington, new personal best high jump
  • Sarah Ross, new personal best, discus throw
  • Winfred Porter, new personal best, 200m
  • Solomon Mitchell, new personal best, 100m
  • Winfred Porter, new personal best, 100m
  • Andre Valcin, new personal best, 400m
  • Nyzaveon Thompson, new personal best, 110m hurdle
  • Tony Roundtree, new personal best, shot put
  • Jamaal McKinney, new personal best, discuss
  • Braxton Chadwich, new personal best hammer throw
  • Sadrea Mabry, SIAC Performer of the Week (3/15)
  • All SIAC Women: Sadrea Mabry, Toni Pellington
  • All SIAC Men: Winfred Porter, Andre Valcin
 
Volleyball
  • Earned second consecutive SIAC Championship bid
  • Back-to-back seasons with best overall record in more than a decade
  • Kloe Lundy, SIAC Defensive Player of the Week (11/10)
  • Sydney Harville, SIAC Setter of the Week (10/19)
  • Destinee Langston, SIAC Newcomer of the Week (9/21)
  • All-SIAC First Team: Imani Williams, Jeilynn Brown, Jedaiah Daniels
 
 
 
 
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