Sports

Saints softball on recent slide

By Kenny Ray | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Photo courtesy John Jordan

PHOTO CAPTION: The softball team has posted a 12-15 record this year.

With a lot of individual talent, Flagler’s softball team is looking to put it all together and turn around a season that has fallen short of their expectations.

“You can always work harder, you can never be satisfied, and there is always room for improvement,” head coach Kristen Overton said.


Player Profile: Justine Burkhardt

St. Augustine native gives glory to friends, family, God

By Clayton Coffman | ccoffman@flagler.edu

Flagler volleyball player Justine Burkhardt has a ton of athletic ability. She’s one of the Saints’ best players; however, she doesn’t take any of the credit. “My faith in God has gotten me to be the person I am now,” she said.

“I can’t take any of the credit. It’s the people around me that makes me strive to be better,” Burkhardt said.


Women’s hoops ends season

Tough season comes to a close as Saints look to future

By Kathy Novak | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Coach Sherri Abbey-Nowatzki had some hard decisions to make this year. “There will be harder choices to face and more difficult decisions to make,” said the woman’s basketball coach after the team’s season had come to an end.

“But there’s light at the end of the tunnel – the future for this team is there. We have played to the level.”
With a final record of 5-24 after the toughest schedule in the history of women’s basketball at Flagler, the Saints certainly had their work out for them this year thanks to games against teams like Florida Tech and Jacksonville University.


Saints’ De La Cruz says goodbye

Senior center wouldn’t trade anything for experience at Flagler

By Kristina Haumschild | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Ben De la Cruz has said his final goodbyes to Flagler College basketball after a heart-breaking, over-time loss at Alabama Huntsville.

“I felt [the OT loss] was fitting. We had a heart-breaker of a season. The ball didn’t bounce our way in the last two minutes the way it did last year, but that’s part of the game,” De la Cruz said.


Coffman’s Corner

By Clayton Coffman | ccoffman@flagler.edu

Jerry Jones does have some brains after all. The locker room cancer that was Terrell Owens had to go. If Vito Corleone had been around, T.O. could have expected a visit from Luca Brasi to make him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Over the last three years, Team Obliterator, as some have called him, continued to showcase his skills as the worst teammate in the history of sports. He was the leader of the Cowboys’ locker room and it ruined this team.



Black athletes appreciate historic background


By Clayton Coffman | ccoffman@flagler.edu

Brandon Johnson and Chanti Beckett are just two of the African-American athletes that participate in Flagler athletics. They have both had the amazing opportunity to play collegiate sports. But it didn’t come with hard work just on the court.

“I realized how important school and character were going to be. It was more than being good [on the court] and a hard worker. They want to know what kind of person you are,” Johnson said.


SLIDESHOW: Men’s Basketball, final home game


By Matthew Boyle | mboyle@flagler.edu

The Flagler College men’s basketball team tore apart visiting Morris College in the Saints’ final home game of the season, with a final score of 108-59. The win also marked the final home game for Flagler seniors Ben De La Cruz, Jon Matthews, Brandon Johnson and Jonathan Reynolds.

The Saints improved to 12-13 with the victory and head to Valdosta State for a game on Feb. 24.


Barnett stepping down as Athletic Director

After 15 years, Barnett says he’s ready to pass on the torch

By Clayton Coffman | ccoffman@flagler.edu

Photo by Mary Elizabeth Fair

David Barnett has been quite the force when it comes to expanding Flagler’s Athletic Department. But after July 1, 15 years of athletic administration will come to an end.

Barnett announced recently that he will relinquish his role as athletic director, but stay on as head Flagler baseball coach.


Softball opens first season on fire

Saints’ excellent pitching has led to fast start in first year

By Kristina Haumschild | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Photo courtesy John Jordan

Opening weekend has come and gone, and the Flagler Saints fast pitch softball team has answered all doubters. With a 6-3 start to their inaugural season, it shows they aren’t to be taken lightly.

The season kicked off with a weekend sweep of Florida Tech. In the first game of the double header, the Saints put up 10 runs against the Panthers to secure an eight-run margin. Junior Sam Boatner became the first softball pitcher at Flagler to secure a win from the circle.