Hey Hawks Fans!

The Chowan University athletic department has so much fun and exciting news to share this week!

First, let’s begin with congratulations to former CU volleyball standout Tori Lewis, CU soccer graduate Payton Shahdad and Bryan Hill and Thomas Bird, who helped coach the CU baseball team.

Lewis is packing her bags and boarding a plane to travel all the way to Durham, England where she will proceed to learn as a graduate student at Durham University. While earning a master’s degree in Business Management, she will continue to show off her abilities on the volleyball court as well.

Lewis’ achievements at Chowan University include:  NCAA Division II Statistical Champion, averaging .98 aces per set.  She was an integral part of the 2009 and 2010 CIAA Championship team, as well as the 2011 CIAA Runner-Up team, a three-time All-CIAA First Team selection, CIAA Tournament MVP in 2010, and was named 2011 CIAA Player of the Year during her senior season.

Shahdad is also traveling the world as a part of the 90+ Academy based in Merseyside, England. The 90+ Academy is part of Ninety Plus Ministries that help aspiring soccer players be placed on professional or semi-professional soccer teams.  It seems that Shahdad is excelling quite well, he has started in every game and played practically every minute. Later this summer, Shahdad will meet with pro and semi- pro managers and coaches which will determine if his career will continue at the professional   or semi- professional level.

Assistant CU Baseball coach Bryan Hill was named head coach of the Wilson Tobs for what’s left of the summer, but he will not be coaching alone. CU’s Thomas Bird has been added to the coaching staff as well. The Wilson Tobs are a part of the Coastal Plain League, which is a wood bat league for college baseball players.

While some athletes are training for their upcoming seasons others are traveling to make a difference off of the field or court. Three Chowan University student-athletes are serving as camp counselors for a week at Camp Penuel in Ironton, Missouri. Softball player Jordan Burland and football players Calvin Preston and Austin Tallant are three of 17 students serving as role models and care givers to the children attending the camp. Camp Penuel is a Christian camping ministry that has focused on serving America’s underprivileged children since 1973.  The camp attendees range from ages six to 11 and they will spend the week interacting and learning from the group of students from Chowan.

The Chowan University Department of Athletics is set to host its fourth annual CU Fall Sports Community Night at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 16. This event is free. It gives all of you supporting fans the chance to mingle with returning sports teams and coaching staffs; that includes football, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, cross country and cheerleading. There will be sports activities, mini skills clinics in each of the fall sports, free dinner, and giveaways throughout the event. Come share the good experience, good food, and good laughs with good people!

GO HAWKS!

 

Amber Matthews is a graduate of Hertford County High School and a senior at Chowan University where she is a member of the softball team. She can be reached at sports@r-cnews.com.