Sunshine State Conference

Mark Anderson and Christian Witt made the most of their time at Barry University. Anderson was a goal-scoring machine for the Buccaneers men's soccer team, while Witt was nearly unstoppable on the tennis court. However, it was their prowess in the classroom that set these men apart. Both were named NCAA Division II CoSIDA Academic All-Americans of the Year, an honor bestowed on just a handful of athletes each year.

Anderson succeeded on and off the pitch in his final year with the Buccaneers. In addition to being named the Academic All-American of the Year for men's soccer, he was named the Ron Lenz Daktronics National Player of the Year. Anderson earned a slew of additional awards that year, including 1st Team All-Sunshine State Conference, 1st Team All-Region, SSC Offensive Player of the Year, SSC Player of the Year, and South Regional Player of the Year.

At the forward position, Anderson scored 21 goals and tallied 46 points that season, ranking him second and third nationally. His 21 goals are the most during a single season in Barry's history. Anderson currently ranks Top-10 at Barry in 16 different career categories.

"Mark provided the best example of the demands of the SSC at Barry University, where the high level of athletic accomplishment is not easily attained," commented Buccaneers head coach, Steve McCrath. "To do so also in the academic arena at the same time shows what a special person he is. It's always an honor to work with someone of Mark's quality."

During his four-year career at Barry, Anderson had been named to the Dean's List three times, the Athletic Director's List twice, and SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll twice. A criminal justice major, Anderson held a 3.567-grade point average at the time of the award. Anderson earned Academic All-District in 2010 as well as Academic All-Region in 2011.

In the spring of 2001, Witt was honored as the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year in Men's Tennis. Witt brought an ITA individual national title to the university shortly after his transfer in the Fall of 1999. The next year he captured an ITA doubles title for the Buccaneers, securing a career's worth of accolades in just two years.

In his first season as a Buccaneer, Witt successfully defended his Rolex Small College singles title, which he had won as a member of the Armstrong Atlantic Pirates the year before. He also set a Barry record with 22 Spring dual match wins. A feat that earned him Sunshine State Conference Co-Player of the Year honors

His second season was almost as impressive, as he won 18 spring matches and another ITA All-America award. He finished his career with a school-record .909 winning percentage (40-4) and was named Barry Male Co-Athlete of the Year for the second straight season.

"Christian was such an amazing person, a true leader of the team," Barry men's tennis coach George Samuel said. "He always took care of his business and came prepared. One of the most low-maintenance players I've ever coached."

While six Sunshine State Conference Athletes have been named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans of the Year, Barry is the only institution with two recipients. Anderson and Witt are the only honorees from the conference in soccer and tennis.

SSC CoSIDA Academic All-Americans of the Year
2001: Christian Witt, Barry, Men's Tennis (At-Large)
2008: Gabe MacDougall, Lynn, Baseball
2011: Marianne Andersson, Florida Southern, Women's Golf (At-Large)
2011: Mark Anderson, Barry, Men's Soccer
2012: Marcus Ruh, Saint Leo, Men's Basketball
2015: Berkley Whaley, Tampa, Volleyball

2018: Marie Coors, Saint Leo, Women's Golf

[Published: 12/17/15 / Edited: 3/17/20]

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Spartans Upset the Wolfpack

The University of Tampa men's basketball program received the program's most significant gift, two days after Christmas, in the winter of 1986. North Carolina State was not looking to play the role of Goliath to the Spartan's David but had little choice in the matter.

Tampa resurrected the men's basketball program in 1983 after a hiatus beginning in 1971. In the four years leading up to the 1986-87 season, UT was no stranger to scheduling Division I opponents. Each year from 1983-87, the Spartans played Division I competition three or more times. However, the game on December 27th, 1986, would prove to be different.

NCAA Division I No. 11, North Carolina State Wolfpack, was in Tampa looking for another win over the Spartans. In the first meeting between the programs, December 2nd, 1985, NC State hosted and defeated UT, 86-64. Famed NC State head coach, Jim Valvano, was not in Tampa with the team. He was bedridden with a 104-degree fever.

The Wolfpack, coached by head assistant Ed McLean, looked to be on pace for a big win over their Division II opponent. NC State was on a torrid pace in the first half, sinking 68% of their shots from the floor (19/28). The high shooting percentage put the Spartans in a 10-point hole at the break.

Tampa's two best players, two-time All-American Todd Linder and Nate Johnston were controlled by NC State from the start. Senior point guard Johnny Jones was the shining light for UT, as the Wolfpack could not account for his big-bodied, 6-4 frame.

NC State's hot hand began to cool in the second half. Three minutes into the period, their 10-point lead had started to slip. The Spartan's defense was certainly to credit for holding the D-I power to a 28% (7-for-26) second-half shooting percentage. Tampa took the lead with just under 4:00 minutes to play in the game. Despite the poor second-half shooting, the Wolfpack continued to play hard, pulling to within one point on three occasions, the Spartans would not relinquish the lead. Two late free throws by Johnny Jones sealed the 67-62 win for the underdog.

Jones finished the game with 30 points and eight rebounds in his 38 minutes on the court. Richard Schmidt, Tampa's head coach both then and currently, remarked on Jones' week, "I don't know what it was with him. He was here for the game before I was. All week in practice, he was hot, and he stayed that way."

It was a signature win for Schmidt and the newly reestablished men's basketball program, both of which were in their fourth season. Schmidt and his team shared the victory with over 4,000 of their closest friends, as the Spartan Sports Center saw a record crowd that day.

"The victory over North Carolina State is memorable to me because of the electric atmosphere and crowd. This was a sellout and record-setting crowd that provided an excellent game day environment for our guys," commented Schmidt. "It ended up being a historic game because NC State proved to be a really good basketball team that season, thus making the effort of this team even more spectacular."

The crowd was so overwhelming before the game that UT's only assistant coach, Don Bostic, was working in the ticket office. Bostic's role that day showed the vast dichotomy between the two basketball programs, as the Valvano-less NC State had six assistants on the sideline.

Tampa finished second in the SSC with a 10-2 record that season. The Spartans gained a regional bid and fell to Alabama A&M after defeating West Georgia. Overall, UT's overall record was 26-6. NC State went 6-8 in the ACC, 20-14 overall. The Wolfpack earned an NCAA tournament bid but were defeated in the first round by Florida.

[Published: 12/17/15 / Edited: 3/17/20]

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NSU Wins Two Golf Championships In One Day, Takes Home Women's Title with Just Four Players

May 19th, 2012, belongs to Nova Southeastern University. It is the day the Sharks took home their first men's golf national championship and secured a fourth consecutive women's golf national championship, shorthanded.

NSU's women's golf team overcame the grueling Persimmon Ridge Golf Course in Louisville, Kentucky, to win the program's fourth straight NCAA Division-II National Championship. To make the performance even more impressive, the Sharks finished atop the field with just four golfers.

Nova Southeastern posted a cumulative score 20 strokes better than second place, Florida Southern. Abbey Gittings was crowned as the 2012 NCAA Individual National Champion, becoming the third consecutive individual champion from the program. Gittings, who was suffering from a back injury throughout the tournament, came out on the final day of competition and carded a one-over 73 to move up from second to capture the individual title.

Liliana Cammisa and Daniela Ortiz finished tied for third. Claudia Wolf, the senior on the Sharks' roster, finished the tournament tied for 44th.

NSU is only the second women's golf team in the history of NCAA Division II women's golf to win four straight titles. Fellow Sunshine State Conference member, Rollins College, accomplished the feat from 2003-06.

"Winning our fourth National Championship in a row was an amazing experience. At the time, we knew what we achieved was special, but now that we have had time and space, we truly appreciate just how special it is," said Amanda Brown, head coach of NSU's women's golf program. "We overcame so many obstacles that particular year to win the Championship. Although it seemed like all the odds were against us, we believed with complete conviction that we could do it. No matter what pushed us back, it only made us want it more. I truly admire the players on the team that year for their total commitment to each other and what they had set out to do. It was amazing to be a part of, and I'll never forget it."

Nova Southeastern's men's golf team captured the National Championship Title after dominating the field during the five-day tournament at the Cardinal Club Golf Course in Louisville, Kentucky. The Sharks finished the first three rounds second overall, tallying a -13 team score. Nationally ranked No. 1, Benjamin Taylor's eight-under propelled the Sharks into the second round match play.

The combination of Mitch Farrer, Ben Vertz, Ricardo Celia, Oscar Lengdèn, and Taylor proved too much for South Carolina-Aiken in the quarterfinals. Following the 4-1 win over Aiken, the Sharks drew even with Central Oklahoma 2-2. NSU advanced to the finals following a total stroke tiebreaker over the Bronchos. NSU then breezed through the championship match, winning 5-0, over Chico State to hoist the trophy.

Taylor was honored with the Jack Nicklaus Award as Division II Men's Golf Player of the Year. Gittings earned NGCA Women's Golf Player of the Year as well as Sunshine State Conference Female Athlete of the Year honors.

NSU men raised the National Championship trophy again in 2015; the women were runners-up in 2013.

[Published: 12/17/15 / Edited: 3/17/20]

The Dominant Defender of the Fighting Knights

Jason Sangha joined some rare company on the afternoon of December 6th, 2014. That's when the Southampton, England native became a National Champion and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the second time as a Lynn University, men's soccer athlete.

Sangha not only had a monster 2014, his entire four-year career as a Fighting Kight was fruitful. After receiving All-American honors from both the NSCAA and Daktronics during his senior season, he became the program's second four-time All-American. His name is now etched in the history books with Lynn & Sunshine State Conference Hall of Famer Gareth Dunn (1997-00).

"I think that has all come down to hard work, dedication and commitment," commented Sangha. "Lynn University has one of the best soccer programs in the country, and the quality of training and players really helped me succeed to be the best. If you believe in yourself and your ability, you can always strive for great success. It was an absolute pleasure to play for the Fighting Knights."

Throughout his career, Sangha collected a staggering 23 conference, regional, and national accolades. In 2014, he was honored as the SSC Defensive Player of the Year, making him the first soccer athlete to be named conference Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year during their career.

"In 28 years of coaching, Jason Sangha is perhaps the most special student-athlete that I have had the privilege to coach. He's very deserving of this honor," remarked Lynn University head coach John Rootes. Under Rootes, Sangha was a four-year defensive starter, a three-year captain, and reached the National Championship three times.

In addition to his accolades, Sangha led the Knights to three SSC regular-season titles and one tournament title. The 2014 squad joined Lynn's 2003 team as the only schools in conference history to win the regular season, tournament title and national title in the same year.
Sangha graduated from Lynn University with his master's degree in international business during December of 2014. Following a professional soccer career in Sweden, Sangha returned to Lynn in the role of Athletics Coordinator.*
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[Published: 12/17/15 / Edited: 3/17/20*]