A number of Emory intercollegiate teams are preparing for what they hope will be successful seasons. Here are previews of those teams that will be in full swing this spring.
Softball
After finishing with an overall record of 41-4-1 last year, the second-highest win total in school history, head coach Penny Siqueiros and the Eagles look for another big campaign. Emory has experience and talent at every spot and promise to be a national title contender. Senior outfielder Jessica Thomas will be one of the key sluggers to watch after hitting .367 with 11 homers en route to Second Team All-America acclaim a year ago. Senior Bridget Holloway and sophomore Lena Brottman will be the mainstays on the pitching staff after combining for 34 wins in 2011.
Men's Tennis
After coming up just one match short of claiming the program's third national title last year, the team, with head coach John Browning, looks to make another serious bid for a national championship. Seniors Dillon Pottish and Chris Goodwin anchor the team's Nos. 1 and 2 singles positions with both players coming off All-America seasons. The duo each claimed 23 dual wins last season with Goodwin capturing the NCAA D-III Singles title, just the second player in program history to achieve that feat.
Baseball
Coming off a 26-17 won-lost record a year ago, head coach Mike Twardowski and the Eagles look for improvement in 2012. Headlining the offensive attack will be sophomore outfielder Brandon Hannon and senior Kevin O'Connor, both of whom were All-South Region honorees as chosen by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Hannon hit
a team-leading .411 and paced the team in runs scored and stolen bases while O'Connor posted a .329 hitting mark that included 14 doubles and 31 RBIs. Sophomore Ben Hinojosa (3-3) and senior Paul Schwendel (5-1) will head up the starting pitching rotation.
Women's Tennis
A perennial power, the Emory women's tennis team, under the direction of head coach Amy Bryant, aims to bring home the coveted national title to Atlanta after registering a third-place effort last season. Sophomore Gabrielle Clark is a key returnee following a stellar freshman year that saw her earn ITA All-America honors in both singles and doubles as well as being named ITA NCAA Division III Rookie of the Year. Joining her will be veterans such as senior Zahra Dawson and junior Jordan Wylie, both All-America honorees last season.
Track and Field
Under the venerable guidance of head coach John Curtin, the Emory men's and women's track and field teams should field talented squads.
On the men's side, senior Ian Francis captured the 2011 UAA crown in the triple jump and was also an All-UAA performer in the long jump. Complementing him will be senior Xavier Fowler, a 2011 all-league honoree in the triple jump. Junior Isaac Chambers and freshman Guilherme Saltao da Silva should prove to be reliable and consistent in the sprints.
The women's squad will have a strong group of sprinters led by senior Jasmine McCullough who competed at the NCAA Championships last year in the 100 meter hurdles and as a member of the 400 meter relay team. Senior Lauren Attiah also took part in nationals in the triple jumper and the 400 meter relay team while senior Alix Dyer captured the UAA titles in the 100 and 200 meter dashes.
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