Track Athlete of the Week
Jason Hart, Mount Olive

A sophomore sprinter from Richmond, Virginia, Jason Hart registered an event win in the 200 meters and improved a pair of conference qualifying standards while competing at The Burg Open in Virginia. 

Hart captured the individual crown in the 200m after crossing the line with a time of 21.91 seconds in a field of over 40 competitors. Following this weekend, he holds the fastest time in Conference Carolinas in the event. Hart produced a fifth-place finish in the 60-meter dash this past Friday after registering a time of 7.06 seconds to move into the top-10 in the league in the event.

Field Athlete of the Week
Kamden Johnson, Mount Olive

A senior, Kamden Johnson registered a pair of conference qualifying standards and produced an event win in the high jump while competing at The Burg Open this past Friday. 

Johnson earned the individual title in the high jump after clearing 1.95 meters and continues to boast the top mark in Conference Carolinas this season. In the long jump, Johnson improved his league mark with a second-place finish after reaching a distance of 6.95 meters. Following the weekend, he holds the top spot in the long jump during the indoor season.

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Men’s Indoor Track & Field Weekly Awards

Week 3 (Jan. 16, 2024)

Track Athlete of the Week: Jason Hart, Mount Olive

Field Athlete of the Week: Kamden Johnson, Mount Olive

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

Women’s Track & Field (Jan. 16, 2024)

Track Athlete of the Week
Chianel Asoburuenwu, Mount Olive

A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Asoburuenwu delivered an NCAA Provisional standard in the 60-meter dash and produced a pair of event victories at The Burg Open this past Friday. 

Asoburuenwu posted a personal-best time of 7.65 seconds in the 60-meter dash to claim the event win, which is the fourth-fastest time in Mount Olive history. Additionally, Asoburuenwu captured a first-place finish in the 200 meters after a blistering pace of 25.42 seconds. She holds the top time in Conference Carolinas in the 200m while moving to second in the league in the 60m.

Field Athlete of the Week
JoAnn Smiling, North Greenville

A senior from Columbia, South Carolina, JoAnn Smiling of North Greenville finished second in the triple jump with a personal-best distance of 11.73 at the Mondo College Invitational at JDL Fast Track. 

The distance is the top mark in the event in Conference Carolinas and also an NCAA Division II provisional mark. 

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Women’s Indoor Track & Field Weekly Awards

Week 3 (Jan. 16, 2024)

Track Athlete of the Week: Chianel Asoburuenwu, Mount Olive

Field Athlete of the Week: JoAnn Smiling, North Greenville

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

Player of the Week
Lauryn Taylor, Francis Marion

A senior forward/center from Blythewood, South Carolina, Lauryn Taylor of Francis Marion averaged 23.5 points, 17.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in two conference wins last week for the Patriots. 

In the league wins over Barton and Lees-McRae, Taylor shot 64 percent (16-of-25) from the field while also connecting on 12 free throws. In the victory over Barton, Taylor registered 22 points, 14 rebounds and two steals. She closed out her week with 25 points, 21 rebounds and four assists on the road at Lees-McRae. 

Taylor has a collected a double-double in 11 games this season, including in nine straight contests. She presently leads all of NCAA Division II in rebounding and double-doubles. Taylor is averaging 19.5 points and 13.0 rebounds per game on the 2023-24 season. She has now claimed weekly honors from the conference five times in the 2023-24 season. 

Defensive Player of the Week
Kalaya Hall, UNC Pembroke

A senior guard from Beulaville, North Carolina, Kalaya Hall of UNC Pembroke finished two league games for the Braves with four steals and one block. Hall averaged 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game in the two conference games against Chowan and Belmont Abbey. 

Hall put together one of the best single-game performances of the 2023-24 season in all of college basketball in the conference win over Chowan with 39 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three assists. The 39-point outburst marks the single most in a single game this season in Conference Carolinas. She scored 28 of her 39 points in the second half. Hall also had 10 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block in the league game with Belmont Abbey. 

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Women’s Basketball Weekly Awards

Week 9 (Jan. 16, 2024)

Player of the Week: Lauryn Taylor, Francis Marion

Defensive Player of the Week: Kalaya Hall, UNC Pembroke

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

Player of the Week
Uzziah Dawkins, Converse

A senior guard from Spartanburg, South Carolina, Uzziah Dawkins of Converse averaged 27.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game in two conference games last week for the Valkyries. 

Dawkins concluded Converse’s conference win over Southern Wesleyan with 29 points, five rebounds, three steals and one assist. He finished the victory shooting 65 percent (11-of-17). He was a perfect 3-of-3 at the free throw line. In Converse’s league game with Chowan, Dawkins collected 25 points, four rebounds and three rebounds.  

Dawkins is currently third in Conference Carolinas in scoring at 19.5 points per game. He has now captured league weekly honors twice in the 2023-24 season.

Defensive Player of the Week
Jordan Akal, King

A sophomore guard from Harlan, Kentucky, Jordan Akal of King registered four steals last week to go along with11.5 points per game. 

In King’s non-conference win over Johnson & Wales, Akal had eight points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal. Akal was stout defensively in King’s conference matchup with Young Harris with three steals. He also had 15 points and three assists. 

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Men’s Basketball Weekly Awards

Week 9 (Jan. 16, 2024)

Player of the Week: Uzziah Dawkins, Converse

Defensive Player of the Week: Jordan Akal, King

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

Player of the Week
Matthew Staskunas, Belmont Abbey

A junior outside hitter from New Berlin, Wisconsin, Matthew Staskunas of Belmont Abbey averaged 3.7 points, 3.0 kills and 1.0 digs per set in three wins last week. Staskunas hit .294 in the three wins. 

In hitting .344 in the five-set win over FDU, Staskunas ended his efforts in the contest with 16 kills, seven digs and two service aces. He followed that up by hitting .333 and collecting 10 kills and three digs in a sweep of St. Thomas Aquinas. Staskunas closed out his week with seven kills, four aces and one dig in the three-set victory over Sacred Heart. 

Specialist of the Week
Francisco Pomar, Erskine

A redshirt senior from Ponce in Puerto Rico, Francisco Pomar of Erskine led all in Conference Carolinas over the opening matches of the 2024 season with 10.88 assists per set. 

Pomar dished out 38 assists to go along with five digs and two service aces in Erskine’s season-opening win over Tusculum. In Erskine’s five-set match with Edward Waters, Pomar finished with 49 assists. He also had two digs. 

2024 Conference Carolinas Men’s Volleyball Weekly Awards

Week 1 (Jan. 16, 2024)

Player of the Week: Matthew Staskunas, Belmont Abbey

Specialist of the Week: Francisco Pomar, Erskine

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.

Wrestler of the Week
Jake Piccirilli, UNC Pembroke

A junior from Woodstock, Georgia, Piccirilli went 3-0 this past Saturday with a trio of pins in the UNCP Tri-Meet. 

Piccirilli  logged a first period pin against Coker and Davis & Elkins and capped off the weekend with a second-period pin over Allen. Piccirilli is currently ranked fourth in The Open Mat rankings for the 149-pound weight class.  

2023-24 Conference Carolinas Men’s Wrestling Weekly Awards

Week 9 (Jan. 16, 2024)

Wrestler of the Week: Jake Piccirilli, UNC Pembroke

Learn more about all weekly/monthly award winners in Conference Carolinas here.