Sports

Eric Downs has led the men’s golf team, staying competitive with ivy elite

By Patrick Varney | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Photo by John Jordan

PHOTO CAPTION: Flagler recently competed in the Shark Invitational where despite rainy conditions and several postponments the team faired well against larger schools like Rutgers.

The Flagler men’s golf team traveled to New Haven, Conn. this past weekend to play in the MacDonald Cup at the Yale Golf Course.

Flagler tied for sixth overall with Harvard University while their star player, Eric Downs, placed fourth.

Downs, a junior from West Palm Beach, has been a standout this year placing well amongst Ivy League schools like Harvard, Dartmouth and Yale.

“It was a fun course that was very different than most I’ve played on,” said Downs.

“It had a lot of woods and it was really cold out. It was a good experience because of the prestigious teams I played against. They offered good competition on one of the best courses I’ve ever played.”

By Brian Vigna | bvigna@flagler.edu

Flagler College has officially applied to the Peach Belt Conference, finally letting student athletes and coaches know where their programs are headed.

The move is a major decision and will determine not only the teams Flagler will face in the coming seasons, but also what the postseason situation will be.

Another important aspect of the new conference is the location, moving us to the Southeast Region, as opposed to the South Region. The change will affect the teams we face in coming seasons, but Flagler will still be able to play any Div. II school in Florida, as well as Georgia and Alabama.

By Kathy Novak | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Women’s volleyball has spiked back with three wins this past weekend at the Carson Newman College October Volleyball Tournament in Jefferson City, Tenn.

It’s a strong rebound after Lady Saints volleyball stumbled with three consecutive losses in what has been a promising season. The team is still cruising, though, and has a 15-8 record.

At the tournament, the Saints blanked their entire brackett with wins over USC with a 3-0 win (25-13, 25-21, 25-22), North Greenville with a 3-0 win (25-18, 25-11, 25-16) and Clark with a 3-0 win (25-14, 25-9, 25-17).

After 4-0 victory over Nova, team confidence on the rise

By Kristina Haumschild | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Photo by JOHN JORDAN

Flagler’s men’s soccer team is ranked fifth in the South Region. The Saints have kicked it into high gear with a 4-2 start, blanking nationally-ranked Nova Southeastern University, 4-0, at home.

“That was the most satisfying win yet,” said John Lynch, men’s head soccer coach. “I knew we could always do it, but with the win over Nova, it really showed the guys what they could achieve.”

Photo by PERRY KNOTS

Volleyball team now at 11-5, had been on 5-game winning streak

Special to the Gargoyle | gargoyle@flagler.edu

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. − Senior libero Sarah Spraggins (Jacksonville, Fla./Fletcher HS) tallied 12 digs which not only set a new school career record, but also led Flagler College to a 3-0 (25-16, 27-25, 25-17) win at Palm Beach Atlantic in a non-conference volleyball match Saturday afternoon at Rubin Arena.

Spraggins broke the mark set by Kristin Hubbard (2000-03) of 1,176 and now has 1,177 in her four-year career.

Photo by JOHN JORDAN

With new rules on practice, the team is finding out how they can prepare

By Kate Shoaf | gargoyle@flagler.edu

A new season means major changes for the men’s basketball team here at Flagler College.

As the latest addition to the NCAA Div. II South region, Flagler’s sports teams are still adapting to the new rules that now apply to them.

Kyle Cregan, assistant coach of the men’s basketball team, said there are now certain limitations the team must face and that they have had to learn how to be “more time efficient.”

“The NCAA limits our practice time, eight hours a week before the season starts and 20 hours a week during the season,” Cregan said about the biggest change the team has faced.

Another major change this year is the recruiting process. Flagler has expanded its recruiting efforts as far as Colorado for the first time in the program’s history.

Cregan said normally Head Coach Bo Clark focuses on getting players from Orlando and Jacksonville, but becoming part of the NCAA has compelled coaches to “step out of the box” and recruit players from all over the country.

Granddaughter of legendary NFL quarterback lives up to family name

By Kathy Novak | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Jillian Unitas is used to the word legacy – not because of the gift shop at Flagler College, but the one in her family. Unitas’ grandfather, Johnny Unitas, was one of the NFL’s MVPs three separate years, and an incredible influence – on the field and in the younger Unitas’ life.

“He influenced me by example – personality, the way he handled things. He was very laid back, never sweat the small stuff,” said Unitas.

Her grandfather still holds several records to this day including his most impressive, throwing touchdown passes in 47 consecutive games.

Sports have always been a huge part of her life as well as the rest of the Unitas family.

File Photo

Getting paid to play the sport you love… in the Philippines

By Lindsey Williams | gargoyle@flagler.edu
For some, it might take a moment to accept a three-year position to play professional ball across the globe. But for Flagler 2004 graduate Robbie Reyes, the answer came naturally. On Aug. 31, Reyes jumped at the opportunity to play basketball in the Philippines. With nothing more than the lines of modern technology as a means to conduct an interview, Reyes reflects on his new life and shares his adjustments as an American playing a familar sport in a foreign land.

By Brian Vigna | BVigna@flagler.edu

Flagler College has been around for 40 years and our once tiny sports program is now our still-tiny-but-growing sports program. This year the school has even added a softball team to comply with NCAA Div. II regulations.

As we continue to expand one question is still unanswered: Will we ever have a football team? I know, I know. We’re too small and still not ready for one.

But wouldn’t it be satisfying to go to a Flagler Stadium and see a bunch of gargantuan men pummel one another for the big win? Could you imagine the changes on campus and in the athletic department if we had our own football team? There might even be school spirit … maybe.

Saints eligible for post-season play for 2008-2009 season

From Staff | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Flagler College has finally received the news it was looking for throughout this three-year process: Welcome to NCAA Div. II.

During a teleconference with the NCAA and with recommendation from the Div. II membership committee, Flagler’s last year of provisional status has been waived and all of its 13 teams are eligible for post-season play starting this fall.