Braves Register Second-Best Finish In PBC Commissioner's Cup
Boasting conference crowns in three sports, as well as runner-up finishes in a trio of others, UNC Pembroke climbed into fourth place late in the final 2018 PBC Commissioner's Cup standings. The fourth-place showing is the second-highest finish for the department in its 26-year membership in the league. The Braves finished a department-best third in the final 2016-17 PBC Commissioner's Cup Standings. The finishes mark the best two-year performance stretch for the department since joining the league, as well as the NCAA Division II ranks, prior to the 1992-93 athletic season. Seven of UNCP's 16 varsity athletic teams were represented in the NCAA postseason in 2017-18, including team appearances by the soccer, men's basketball and baseball squads.
 
UNC Pembroke Athletics Unveils New Strategic Plan
On the heels of one of the department's most successful athletic campaigns in school history, the UNC Pembroke athletics department released its new five-year strategic plan to the general public in November. The strategic plan outlines five major goals for the department, including: develop successful adults – academically, athletically and socially (student success); uphold culture of integrity, gender equity and compliance (effectiveness and efficiency); recruit students, coaches and staff that enhance our programs (institution of choice); and, communicate our story, enhance marketing and community engagement (regional engagement). Strategies and tactics have been identified to achieve each of the five goals.
 
UNCP Rakes In Third PBC Presidents' Academic Award
UNC Pembroke added its name to an elite list of just two league institutions to ever win the Peach Belt Conference Presidents' Academic Award on three occasions when receiving the honor this May. The award recognizes excellence in academics concerning all of an institution's student-athletes. It is the third-such honor for the Black & Gold in the 12-year history of the award, but the first since collecting back-to-back honors in 2009-10 and 2010-11. The Braves joined former PBC member Armstrong State (4) as the only institutions to win the honor on three or more occasions.
 
Student-Athletes Register Record Performances Inside Classroom
A record year in the athletic arenas started in the classroom for UNC Pembroke's student-athletes as the 16 varsity athletic teams combined to post a department record 2.884 grade point average. Five teams – golf, soccer, softball, volleyball and women's cross country – registered a team GPA of 3.275 or better during the 2017-18 academic year, while three teams – men's track & field, volleyball and women's basketball – saw their team GPA increase by better than 6-1/2 percent. An unprecedented 133 student-athletes were recognized on an institutional honor roll, while 48 individuals were recognized for academic achievement by the Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2ADA).
 
Seven Teams Make NCAA Postseason Appearances
Seven of UNC Pembroke's 16 varsity athletic teams made appearances in the NCAA postseason this year, including the men's basketball team which matched a school record for single season victories, while also posting the program's second NCAA Tournament victory. The soccer team used the momentum from capturing its first PBC title to log its third NCAA appearance, while the baseball team used a late-season surge to make its second-straight appearance in the postseason. Four teams (golf, men's track & field, women's track & field, wrestling) were represented by individual qualifiers at the NCAA championships.
 
Record Three Teams Capture Conference Crowns, Three Others Finish Runner-Up
The UNC Pembroke soccer team registered three-straight 1-0 shutouts in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament to pave the way to its first league title in the 17-year history of the program. The wrestling squad closed the regular season with five-straight dual meet wins to stake claim to the Eastern College Athletic Conference crown – its first ECAC title and first conference crown since it tallied six Carolinas Conference championships from 1977-84. The men's basketball team led the PBC standings from start to finish en route to capturing its second-straight PBC regular season and tournament titles. Three other teams – men's cross country, golf and men's track & field – laid claim to hardware as well with runner-up finishes at their respective conference championships.
 
Seven Student-Athletes Decorated With All-America Laurels
Prolific performances by a handful of UNCP student-athletes paid dividends in the postseason as wrestlers Nick Daggett, Eric Milks and Rodney Shepard, football's Tyler Hinton and baseball players Luke Jackson and Trey Jacobs all earned their first all-America laurels. After becoming just the fourth player in the history of the softball program to grab all-America recognition as a junior in 2017, Jamie Johnson closed out her collegiate career with another all-America crown after hitting .435 with eight home runs and 43 RBI. Jacobs, who earned all-America nods from three different organizations, became the first consensus first team all-American baseball player for the Braves in program history.
 
First Team, Four Individuals Join Athletics Hall Of Fame
The 1978 national championship cross country team, as well as four other standout student-athletes, were officially inducted into the UNC Pembroke Athletics Hall of Fame as part of Homecoming Week in late October. The 17-member cross country team, as well as their head coach, Dr. Ed Crain, were the first team to be inducted into the distinguished listing of former student-athletes, coaches and administrators. Basketball standouts Margaret Bell and Michael Emanuel, baseball's Tammy Ham and cross country's Amy Locklear were also highlighted in UNCP's 39th Hall of Fame induction class. Four members of the 1978 national championship team had already been inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame as individuals. Crain was inducted into the Hall in 2000.
 
University's Fund-raising Record Surpassed Again At Sixth Annual Cash Bash
A Toast To Dan Kenney was the focus of a record-breaking night for the Sixth Annual Cash Bash presented by Scotland Health that raised more than $105,000 toward the Braves Club general scholarship fund, the largest single night of fundraising in UNCP history. The event welcomed a record 445 attendees as the former UNC Pembroke men's basketball head coach and athletics director was honored, while those closest to him along the path of his illustrious career shared admiration, and sometimes humorous, stories about their enthusiastic friend, colleague and father. To date, the annual event has generated more than $420,000 in six years for student-athlete scholarships and the University's 16 varsity athletic programs.
 
Championship Celebrations Highlight Golden Braves Awards
Three teams were lauded for winning conference champions, while three others were recognized for runner-up finishes at their respective conference championship events, to highlight the night at the 2018 Golden Braves in April. Pembroke native and long-time philanthropist Eddie Mac Locklear picked up Braves Club Member of the Year recognition, while University photographer Willis Glassgow was named the Changing Lives Through Education award recipient. Five traditional awards – the male and female athlete of the year, male and female rookie of the year and the Dan Kenney Coach of the Year – will be presented at the Student-Athlete Welcome Back event in August.
 
All-Conference Awards Were Bountiful Again For Braves In 2017-18
UNC Pembroke student-athletes combined to rake in 52 all-conference honors during the 2017-18 athletic season, and led all 12 Peach Belt Conference member institutions with 46 all-PBC honors. The track & field squad led the way again with 28 all-conference awards, and the baseball team had six student-athletes named to the all-conference team. The wrestling team led the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) with six all-league selections, while both the men's basketball and men's cross country squads pulled in three all-PBC nods apiece. UNCP's student-athletes also combined to secure an impressive 36 nods to their respective sport's PBC All-Academic Team.
 
Flax, Locklear Rake In PBC Elite 15 Honors
Women's basketball's Avery Locklear and golf's Katy Flax both added an impressive entry into their collegiate resume when the duo was decorated with the Peach Belt Conference Elite 15 Award. UNCP is one of just two league schools to have multiple student-athletes lauded with Elite 15 recognition in each of the past two years.The award is presented in each of the league's 15 championship sports to the student-athlete participating in the championships with the highest cumulative GPA. Locklear, who maintains a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average as a history major at UNCP, picked up the laurel for the second-straight season.
 
59 Student-Athletes Earn Degrees At Winter, Spring Commencements
A total of 59 student-athletes earned their bachelor's or graduate degrees during the 2017-18 academic year, including 40 that took part in UNCP's spring commencement ceremony. More than 35 of those student-athletes were on hand to participate in the athletics department's bi-annual Student-Athlete Graduation Breakfast in May where head coaches, along with select members of UNCP's athletics administration, presented the graduation candidates with stoles to commemorate their time as a student-athlete for the Black & Gold. Five former student-athletes – football's DeVante Bush, golf's Dana Watkins, softball's Morgan Davis and Whitney Jackson and soccer's Brittany Padilla – have now earned both their undergraduate and graduate degrees from UNCP.
 
UNCP Sends 177 To PBC Presidential Honor Roll Recognition
The work of UNC Pembroke's student-athletes in the classroom paid dividends in late June when 177 Braves were named to the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll. It is the ninth-straight year that UNCP has sent 100 or more student-athletes to the distinguished listing – the longest stretch of any of the league's 12 member institutions. The Black & Gold has raked in a league-best 1,313 PBC (145.9/year) Presidential Honor Roll laurels over that span as well. It is just the second time in the history of the award that UNCP has had 160 or more student-athletes decorated with the honor. The Braves sent a record 179 student-athletes to the listing following the 2014-15 athletic season.
 
UNCP, Teams4Taps Partner For Memorable Football Military Appreciation Night
UNC Pembroke partnered with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) as part of Military Appreciation Night on August 31 at Grace P. Johnson Stadium. Four TAPS families, including one with ties to UNCP, were paired with a captain from the UNCP football team who honored each family's fallen hero during the game against Winston-Salem State by wearing the initials of their family's fallen hero on their helmet. The captains and the families were also provided with time together prior to kickoff to connect and share their stories which was included to provide a more memorable and personal experience for the families, as well as UNCP's student athletes.
 
Epperson Story Highlights Softball's Cancer Awareness Day
The UNC Pembroke softball team hosted its inaugural Cancer Awareness Series in late March, and honored a pair of cancer survivors prior to first pitch, including senior outfielder Haleigh Epperson who was diagnosed with stage 3 rhabdomyosarcoma at age six, and was given just a seven percent chance to live through high school. Epperson, who was one of the first campers at Victory Junction in Randleman, received the ceremonial first pitch from childhood cancer survivor Creed Sellers. She was then surprised by Dr. William Ward, the man who saved Epperson's life 16 years ago. Epperson earned her bachelor's degree from UNCP in May.
 
Soccer Blanks Columbus State In Championship Game To Claim First-Ever PBC Title
Christine Rolfes banged home a penalty kick in the 20^th minute and the fourth-seeded UNC Pembroke defense shut out handed No. 10 Columbus State its first shutout of the season to power the Braves to their first Peach Belt Conference title in program history and the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The unblemished tournament run for UNCP included a trio of 1-0 shutouts, including a quarterfinal win over Georgia College and a semifinal triumph over North Georgia. Sophomore goalkeeper Gina Ryan was named tournament most valuable player, and was joined on the all-tournament team by Shannon O'Neill and Alexis Pittman.
 
Soccer Gaffers Named United Soccer Coaches Region Staff Of The Year
On the heels of the first Peach Belt Conference Tournament title in program history, the UNC Pembroke soccer coaching staff was recognized by the United Soccer Coaches as the Division II Southeast Region Staff of the Year. Head coach Lars Andersson led his squad to 12-4-1 record in the regular season and a PBC title thanks to a trio of 1-0 victories in the tournament. UNCP also made its third NCAA postseason appearance since the program's inception in 2001. Andersson was assisted by Brittany Padilla and Carolina Sanchez during the 2017 campaign, while Rose Bussey served as the team's athletic trainer.
 
Kipkoech Stakes Claim To Peach Belt Conference, Southeast Region Crowns
Months after making waves as a key member of the Peach Belt Conference champion men's track & field squad, Kenyan Silus Kipkoech showed an impressive debut as a member of the cross country team. Kipkoech registered the fourth-fastest 8K time in program history on the way to conquering the rest of the 70-man field by more than 30 seconds at the Peach Belt Conference Championships, and then turned in the program's ninth-fastest 10K time en route to claiming the NCAA Southeast Region crown as well. Kipkoech won titles at five events during his freshman campaign, including titles at the Florida State Invitational and Queens Twilight as well.
 
Men's Track & Field Checks Into Nation's Top 10
A solid start to the season proved to be fruitful for the UNC Pembroke men's track & field team as the Braves checked in at No. 7 in the NCAA Division II Men's Outdoor Track & Field Team Rankings by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association in late March. The Braves were ranked among the nation's top 35 teams for four-straight weeks during the regular season, and finished their most recent campaign with a No. 3 listing in the USTFCCCA Southeast Region Ranking. The women's squad climbed as high as No. 37 in the national poll, and finished fourth in their region ranking.
 
Track & Field Duo Named PBC Athletes Of The Year, Ormsby Picks Up PBC Coach of the Year
It was a bit of déjà vu for a pair of track & field standouts at the conclusion of the UNC Pembroke-hosted Peach Belt Conference Track & Field Championships in late April. Senior Jeanna Cube was named Peach Belt Conference Women's Field Athlete of the Year for the second-straight year, while sophomore Silus Kipkoech picked up his second-straight PBC Men's Track Athlete of the Year accolades. Third-year head coach Peter Ormsby, who led the men's team to an appearance among the nation's top 10 teams in mid-March, as well as a runner-up finish at the PBC Championships, was selected as the PBC Men's Track & Field Coach of the Year.
 
Track & Field Shatters Five School Records, Sends Three To NCAA Outdoor Championships
It was another record-breaking year for the UNC Pembroke track & field squads as five school records were surpassed, including Jeanna Cube busting her own school record in the 60-meter Hurdles in consecutive meets. Lashonda Tate established new school records in both the Long Jump (indoor & outdoor) and Triple Jump (outdoor), while the distance runners made their mark with a new school record in the 4x1500m Run. All-American Kory Jones finished 13^th in the Long Jump at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, while Cube finished 17^th in the 100-meter Hurdles and Tate grabbed a 24^th-place finish in the Triple Jump.
 
Men's Basketball Claims Conference Regular Season, Tournament Crowns Again
It was business as usual for the UNC Pembroke men's basketball team during the 2017-18 season as the Braves matched a school record with 27 victories on the way to securing both the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament crowns for the second-straight season. UNCP became the sixth different team in the 27-year history for the league to secure back-to-back regular season titles, and the fourth different squad to bring home the PBC Tournament championships. The Braves joined USC Aiken as the only two teams to capture both crowns in consecutive seasons, however. The 27 wins for the program were the most since the 1990-91 squad registered a 27-5 campaign under head coach Dan Kenney.
 
Miller Climbs Atop Program's All-Time Wins List
The UNC Pembroke men's basketball team's Alumni Weekend victory over Young Harris marked skipper Ben Miller's 170^th victory at UNCP, while also giving him the title as the program's all-time winningest coach. The win over the Mountain Lions moved the 10^th-year head coach past former skipper Lacey Gane (1965-75) atop the program's all-time wins list. Miller has amassed a 178-121 (.595) record at UNCP, while also leading the club to its first five NCAA Tournament appearances. His tenure has also produced four 20-win seasons for the program, as well as eight winning seasons. The program had enjoyed just one 20-win campaign in the 23 years prior to his arrival on campus.
 
Wrestling Uses Late Win Streak To Capture ECAC Conference Crown  
Braves Finishes Among Nation's Top 25 For 12th-Straight Season  
Soccer's Hurd Wins PBC SunTrust Foundation Minority Graduate Scholarship
Soccer's Alexis Hurd was named the 2018 recipient of the SunTrust Foundation Minority Graduate Scholarship at the Peach Belt Conference's annual awards dinner in Hilton Head, S.C. It is the sixth time in as many years that a UNCP student-athlete has been presented with the scholarship. A three-time PBC Presidential Honor Roll selection, Hurd was named to the 2016 PBC All-Academic Team as well. An active member of the UNCP Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), she was twice named to the Chancellor's List and earned a spot on the Honor's List on four occasions. She graduated in May with a double major in criminal justice and sociology and a minor in terrorism, and has been accepted to the Charleston School of Law and will begin classes this fall.
 
Freeman Named Faculty Athletics Representative, NCAA FAR Fellow
UNC Pembroke Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings announced in October that Dr. Kevin Freeman, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, has been named Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR). The FAR serves as the liaison between the university and the athletics department on issues regarding rules compliance, developments at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and activities related to Peach Belt Conference (PBC) membership. Freeman was later selected as one of the 2018 NCAA Division II Faculty Athletics Representative Fellows and will attend the 10th NCAA Division II FAR Fellows Institute, Sept. 28-30, in Indianapolis.
 
Soccer, Football Complete Coaching Staffs With New Hires
The soccer and football teams continued to build their coaching staffs with both promotions and new hires during the spring and summer. Brittany Padilla, a former student-athlete who served the soccer team as a graduate assistant coach over the last two seasons, officially joined the staff on a full-time basis in March. Former standout and graduate assistant coach DeVante Bush joined the football staff (defensive line) as a full-time coach in January, while Aaron Welch, who served as a graduate assistant coach as well for each of the last two campaigns, became a full-time assistant coach (running backs) in July. Head coach Shane Richardson capped his full-time staff with another mid-summer hire of Tim Driscoll as well by tabbing the former Finlandia (Mich.) head coach as his new defensive coordinator.
 
UNCP Announces Partnership With Scotland Health, Dedicates Lobby
Department officials announced in July that UNC Pembroke has entered into an exclusive partnership with Scotland Health Care System to make it the official healthcare provider for UNCP's 16 varsity athletic teams and nearly 400 student-athletes. As part of the agreement, Scotland Health Care will provide a primary care physician to oversee UNCP's athletic training staff, as well as provide an on-site orthopedic physician to staff all home football and basketball games on campus. As a show of appreciation for the partnership, members of UNCP's administration were on hand in late October as the east lobby in the English E. Jones Center was renamed the "Scotland Healthcare Lobby" in honor of the organization.
 
Department Adds Track & Field Locker Rooms, Conference Room To Athletic Stable
Locker rooms designed to enhance the student-athlete experience for both the men's and women's cross country/track & field programs were unveiled to the teams upon their return to campus for the spring semester in January. The facilities, which will enhance the recruiting efforts for both programs, include both a lounge area and nearly 50 locker spaces for the teams, as well as aesthetic additions that celebrate past championships and all-Americans. The department also added a recruiting and conference room to its stable of enhancements during the fall semester. The space, which was formerly reserved for the wrestling coaching staff, includes a 10-foot conference table and seating for eight.
 
Improvements Unveiled At Soccer, Football Stadiums
Enhancements to UNC Pembroke's outdoor athletic facilities continued to be showcased as well. Major aesthetic improvements to Lumbee River EMC Stadium, including a new grand entrance, the addition of both men's and women's restrooms and enhancements to the team bench areas, were unveiled as part of a ribbon cutting prior to the soccer team's matchup with Lees-McRae in mid-October. A major improvement was unveiled at Grace P. Johnson Stadium as well with the addition of a high definition Daktronics scoreboard. The replay-capable video display measures approximately 390 square feet and is complemented by a state-of-the-art sound system. The system was showcased at a pair of track & field meets during the spring, as well as football's annual spring game.