Campbell Athletics Highlights

 

2008-09

 

Campbell University Athletics enjoyed another outstanding year in 2008-09.  Three teams – men’s golf, men’s soccer and softball – won Atlantic Sun Conference championships.  Campbell advanced to NCAA post-season play in men’s golf, softball and men’s and women’s track & field.  The men’s soccer team was ranked 25th in the nation in the final Soccer America poll.

 

Facility Improvements

The $30 million John W. Pope Convocation Center / Gilbert Craig Gore Arena opened in September 2008 and serves as home to Campbell University volleyball, basketball and wrestling.  Barker-Lane Stadium opened on Aug. 30, 2008 to a greater than capacity crowd of 5825 that witnessed Campbell’s first football game since 1950.  The East stands, concessions area and restrooms were completed, while the West side grandstand and press box remains to be completed.  Improvements were also made at the CU Soccer Stadium and Softball Field as well as Taylor Field (baseball).

 

All-Academic Performers

During 2008-09, Campbell student-athletes were honored 154 times on all-academic teams by the Atlantic Sun Conference, Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association and Pioneer Football League.

 

Camel Men Runner-Up in A-Sun All-Sports Race

Campbell finished second in the Jesse Fletcher Trophy men’s all-sports standings for the 2008-09 academic year, while the Camels place third in the Bill Bibb Trophy standings for overall men’s and women’s athletics excellence in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

 

Community Service:  Campbell student-athletes completed more than 4,837 community service hours in and around the Buies Creek community during the 2008-09 academic year.

 

Campbell to rejoin Big South Conference in 2011-12

Campbell University will join the Big South Conference effective July 1, 2011.  The announcement was made by Board of Trustees chairman Bob Barker at a press conference Thursday, May 14 in the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center.  A charter member of the Big South, which formed in 1983 and began play one year later, Campbell joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in 1994 and will remain in the league for two more seasons. 

 

Notable 2008-09 Camel Highlights

 

Campbell hosted its first football game in front of 5825 fans at Barker-Lane Stadium.  In its first year of football competition since 1950, Campbell ranked third among Pioneer League members in home attendance.

 

In its first year in the 3095-seat John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center / Gilbert Craig Gore Arena, Campbell set all-time attendance average records for men’s (1619) and women’s (996) basketball.

 

Karlie Love (softball) was named Academic All-America by the College Sports Information Directors of America, the 15th time since 1988 that a Camel athlete has been so honored.  Charles Fiore (football), Diana Norden (women’s cross country/track & field), Austin Skakle (men’s soccer) and Love were named Academic All-District by CoSIDA , marking the 15th-straight year at least one Campbell athlete has earned that honor.

 

Richard Jata (men’s soccer) was named second-team All-America, Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year and was selected by the Chicago Fire in the fourth round of the Major League Soccer (MLS) Super Draft.

 

Doug Hess (men’s soccer) and Drew Peterson (softball) were named Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year.

 

Harold Sims was named Outstanding Athlete at the A-Sun Indoor Track & Field Championships.

 

Aaron Johnson (men’s soccer) was named Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

 

Lorne Merthie (men’s basketball) was named Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year.

 

Brittany Stanley (softball) was named All-Southeast Region, Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year and A-Sun Championship tournament MVP.

 

Ryan Hamme was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 31st round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft.

 

2007-08

 

Campbell University Athletics enjoyed another outstanding year in 2007-08.  Two teams – men’s soccer and softball – won Atlantic Sun Conference tournament championships and advanced to NCAA post-season play.

 

Facility Improvements

Progress continued on the $30 million John W. Pope Convocation Center with the opening of the facility scheduled for the fall of 2008.  Construction on the CU Football field house was completed as well as the first stage of the CU Football Stadium in preparation for the team’s 2008 opener on Aug. 30.  Improvements were also made at the CU Soccer Stadium and Softball Field.

 

All-Academic Performers

During 2007-08, Campbell student-athletes were honored 158 times on all-academic teams by the Atlantic Sun Conference, Colonial Athletic Association and Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association.

 

Camel Men Runner-Up in All-Sports Race

Campbell finished second in the Jesse Fletcher Trophy men’s all-sports standings for the 2007-08 academic year.

 

Community Service:  Campbell student-athletes completed more than 2,500 community service hours in and around the Buies Creek community during the 2007-08 academic year.

 

Notable 2007-08 Camel Highlights

 

Heidi Shallow won all-conference honors at the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association championship and qualified for the Canadian Olympic Trials.

 

Karlie Love (softball) was named Academic All-District by the College Sports Information Directors of America, marking the 14th-straight year a Campbell athlete has earned that honor.

 

Sam Tilly was named Outstanding Field Athlete at the A-Sun Indoor Track & Field Championship and qualified for the NCAA outdoor championship in the long jump.

 

Harold Sims was named Outstanding Track Athlete at the A-Sun Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

 

Three Camel Athletes were named A-Sun Freshman of the Year – Sandra Angulo (women’s golf), Josue Soto (men’s soccer) and Davy Sum (men’s tennis).

 

Campbell hosted its first Spring Football game in April in front of more than 1500 fans at the CU Football Stadium.

 

Campbell concluded its 55-year run in Carter Gym for men’s and women’s basketball in front of a capacity crowd in the regular season finale.

 

2006-07

 

Facility Improvements

Ground-breaking ceremonies were held for the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center in September and the CU Football Stadium in March.

 

All-Academic Performers

Campbell Athletes earned Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic Team honors 119 times during the 2006-07 academic year.  The men’s soccer team led all Campbell athletic programs with an average of nearly 20 community service hours per player.

 

Community Service:  Campbell student-athletes completed more than 2,400 community service hours in and around the Buies Creek community during the 2006-07 academic year.

 

Notable 2006-07 Camel Highlights

 

John Crooks (women’s golf) and David Johnson (men’s tennis) were named Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year.

 

Alicia Valtin was named A-Sun women’s cross country runner of the year and women’s indoor track most outstanding performer, while advancing to the NCAA championship in both cross country and outdoor track.

 

Sam Tilly won the NCAA East Regional long jump competition and finished ninth in the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

 

Men’s soccer standout Devin Sheppard was named first-team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

 

Femi Alabi (volleyball) and Devin Sheppard (men’s soccer) were named Academic All-District by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

 

The men’s soccer team led the Atlantic Sun Conference in attendance, lost only one regular season conference game, and defeated third-ranked North Carolina.

 

The women’s golf team won its 8th A-Sun Championship and earned an NCAA regional berth for the 10th time in 11 seasons.

 

Fredric Sundberg (men’s golf) earned a berth in the NCAA Regional tournament.

 

Jonathan Rodriguez finished fifth among the nation’s freshman men’s basketball scoring leaders and was named Mid-Major Freshman All-America.

 

 

2005-06

The 2005-06 academic year was one of the best in the history of Campbell University Athletics.

 

Academics:  The Athletics Department reached all of the academic goals set at the beginning of the year including having the highest overall grade point average (2.921) in the history of that statistic and the recognition of an Academic All American!

 

Athletics:  Campbell had the best overall sports program in the Atlantic Sun Conference, based on cumulative points awarded in the all-sports race.  The Campbell women finished 2nd in the A-Sun Sherman Day Trophy race and the Fighting Camel men finished third in the Jesse Fletcher Trophy standings.  In addition, Campbell had four coaches of the year, eight players of the year and two All-American honorees.

 

Community Service:  Campbell student-athletes more than completed 4,767 community service hours in and around the Buies Creek community during the 2005-06 academic year.  That number of hours far exceeded the highest number of hours ever completed by Campbell student-athletes in one academic year.

 

Fund Raising:  Through the Fighting Camel Club, marketing efforts, special fund raising events, and other special efforts, Campbell Athletics assisted in bringing in more external dollars than in any previous academic year.  Those funds help support the sports programs and the athletic-related facility needs which include the Convocation Center.

 

Notable 2005-06 Camel Highlights

 

John Crooks (women’s golf), Doug Hess (men’s soccer), Robbie Laing (men’s basketball) and Drew Peterson (softball) were named Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year.

 

Mike Priest (baseball) was named Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

 

Willy Guadarrama led the nation’s Division I men’s soccer players in scoring and was named All-American.

 

The women’s golf team won the A-Sun title for the 7th time in 11 years and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the 10th time in 13 seasons.

 

John Crooks was inducted into the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

 

Women’s Basketball Coach Wanda Watkins recorded her 400th career victory.

 

Dale Steele was named head coach of CU’s new football program.

 

The men’s basketball team finished second in the nation in scoring at 82.8 points per game.