Tri-County’s Men’s Golf and Soccer Teams
Kick Off Season with Strong Recruits
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8/22/2008
CONTACT: DOUG ALLEN, 646-1408
OR JOHN BORYCKI, 646-1546
(By Lisa Garrett)
PENDLETON --- Both in their second year of varsity competition, Tri-County Technical College’s men’s golf and soccer teams (The Hawks) are entering the season with strong recruits, and coaches say it’s not out of reach for each team to win a regional title.
The soccer season kicks off August 27 with a home game against USC Salkehatchie at 5 p.m. at the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center. The golf team competes at the Spartanburg Methodist-USC Lancaster match in Lancaster September 5.
After four years of competing at the club level in NJCAA’s Region X, in 2007 the College’s Commission’s voted to allow Tri-County sports teams to be NJCAA Division One varsity teams.
The Golf team went to the regional tournament for the first time last year and ranks 22nd nationally among Division I teams.
Golf Coach Doug Allen says a regional crown is possible because of the caliber of returning players and the high school athletes he has been able to recruit. There are three returning players– Brett Wyman, last year’s Most Valuable Player; Nick Williams, whose scoring average is neck-in-neck with Wyman; and Daniel Castles, who won the Spirit Award last year and who excels in academics as well as in his athletic performance.
Allen recruited John Henderson, one of the top junior golfers in the state for the last five years, Ryan Case, who won three tournaments this summer in the WNCJGA, and Richard Allen, who went to a playoff in another WNCJCA event.
Also on the team are Russ Gillig, the number-one player for Mauldin High, Jamie Daniel, the number-two player for Eastside High, Brent Abercrombie, the number-two player at Hillcrest High, and Matthew Bryan, the number-one player at Midland Valley at Graniteville.
George Frederick, a graduate of James Island High School in Charleston, will join the team, as well as Brett Bell, the number-one player for Pickens High.
“It worked out well – they wanted to play intercollegiate athletics, and we had a program of study that they were interested in. They all had offers from other schools, but they chose Tri-County because they were attracted to the small community college atmosphere and the location,” said Allen.
Men’s Soccer Coaches Jonathan McCombs and John Borycki are equally as confident in the soccer team’s abilities.
Head Coach McCombs and Assistant Coach Borycki agree they are starting with a new freshman team of good technical players with good tactical awareness.
“At this junior college level, only a few teams have the caliber of talent that we bring to the table,” said McCombs.
Both he and Borycki visited high schools and club tournaments all over the Southeast in their recruiting efforts. Three new recruits are All-Region players. Brad McKeever, a recent Pinecrest (NC) High School graduate is an All-Regional Goalkeeper and an All-Conference Goalkeeper. Palmer Boles from Union Pines (NC) High School was a 1st Team All-Region Defender, as was Tommy Grande, a graduate of Aiken High School. Also recruited were Michael McNamara and Michael Moreno, both premiere players for the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA).
In addition to talented players from the Southeast, the Hawks’ roster also will include several international athletes. Aaron Wong-You is from Toronto, where he played in the Canadian Academy club program, Dwayne Nicome is from Trinidad, and David Iacono is from England. The College’s website, tctcsports.com, enables prospective athletes from all areas to learn more about Tri-County athletics.
“The team had an instant camaraderie, which allows them to be more effective tactically,” said McCombs.
“We’re playing Louisburg, who is ranked eighth in the country, and Georgia Perimeter who is second in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America pre-season poll. But we’re in a good position to win the regional and then have the opportunity for a district game,” said Borycki. “It’s not out of reach to think we can win the regional title.”
Vinson Burdette, dean of Student Development and athletics director, says he’s gotten positive comments from players, who are “excited to be involved in intercollegiate athletics at Tri-County. The addition of athletics add a dynamic that enriches the college experience for all students.”
“Athletics is a great learning tool where players can pick up character traits for life, such as hard work, dedication, determination and dealing with adversity, as well as success,” said Borycki. |
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