King named to all-conference first team
UVa-Wise freshman tennis player Laura King was selected to the Appalachian Athletic Conference’s first team in voting by the league’s coaches at the annual AAC tennis banquet in late April. King also was named to the Duard Walker Sportsmanship team, as was UVa-Wise men’s tennis player Steve McCoy.

Dale named Wise County Citizen of the Year

      The Wise County Chamber of Commerce honored Carroll Dale with its Citizen of the Year award during the chamber’s golden anniversary gala in early April.
      A former Pro-Bowl football player with the Green Bay Packers and an All-American receiver at Virginia Tech, Dale, served as UVa-Wise’s athletic director from 1991-2003 and helped establish the College’s football team in 1991. After his professional football playing days had passed, Dale, who now serves as the College’s assistant vice chancellor of athletic development, moved back to Wise County in 1974 and worked the coal business as a mine operator.
      Dale’s spiritual life also has led him to be a positive influence to others. As an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Dale has spoken to numerous youth and church groups about the importance of maintaining high moral character throughout life. “When looking for a genuine larger-than-life hero athlete, our children need look no further than our own community,” Chamber President Rick Burchfield said. “Carroll Dale’s performance and sportsmanship on the field and his character and conduct off the field have made him the perfect role model.”

Cavs’ kick returner, receiver picks up postseason honors
UVa-Wise junior Dieontea Stewart was selected to the 2003 NAIA Football Second Team All-American Defense squad, the organization announced in January. Stewart, a Pemberton, N.J., native, returned 14 kicks for the Cavaliers in 2003, averaging 30.5 yards per return. His longest return, a 99-yard touchdown sprint, came in October against nationally-ranked Georgetown College before the home crowd at Carl Smith Stadium. For several weeks during the season, Stewart ranked as high as second nationally in kick returns. By the end of the season, however, he fell just short of having enough returns to qualify for the national rankings.The talented Stewart, who also spent time on the field playing receiver, quarterback and free safety, was named a third-team NAIA All-American kick returner by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette and received honorable mention from the Gazette for his play as a pass catcher. Offensive linemen Kenis Maciel and defensive tackle Michael Hackney were named to the Mid-South Conference’s second teams. The 2003 Daktronics-NAIA Football All-America Scholar Athletes team featured UVa-Wise offensive lineman Doug Gibson. A senior from Big Stone Gap, Gibson also made the MSC’s academic squad, which was announced in December.

Hedrick named All-AAC
For the past four years, Bobby Hedrick has dazzled the Greear Gymnasium faithful with his sweet net-splitting, twine-tickling jump shot. In February, the guard from Hampton, Va., received cheers and accolades from outside of the UVa-Wise campus when he was voted to the Appalachian Athletic Conference first team by the leagues coaches. Hedrick led UVa-Wise in scoring with 17.2 points per game, and in January, he became the 23rd player in the UVa-Wise men’s basketball program’s 34-year history to score more than 1,000 career points. Later in season, Brandon Green joined Hedrick in the 1,000-point club with one of his trademark three-point shots in an AAC contest with Virginia Intermont College.

Clark moves to top of basketball wins list
When UVa-Wise defeated Brevard College 60-55 at Greear Gymnasium on a cold Tuesday night in late January, Lee Clark, the Cavaliers’ head coach for the past eight years, moved to the top of the basketball career victories list at the College. The win gave Clark 110 coaching wins, moving him ahead of former UVa-Wise basketball coach Preston Mitchell, who won 58 games as the women’s hoops coach from 1989-192 and then
collected 51 more victories as the men’s coach from 1992-196. The accomplishment was yet another on a fast-growing list for Clark. A year ago, Clark became the first men’s coach to reach 100 victories when his team defeated Virginia Intermont College in the Appalachian Athletic Conference championship game.

Helton, teammates receive honors
If UVa-Wise freshman basketball player Sarah Helton had any first-year jitters, it certainly didn’t show on the hardcourt. Helton averaged 18 points and nearly nine rebounds per game, led the Lady Cavaliers to a 14-14 overall record - the team’s best mark in five years - and helped UVa-Wise reach the quarterfinals of the 2003-04 Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament. Her remarkable efforts caught the attention of the coaches around the AAC who named her the league’s Freshman of the Year for the 2003-04 season. The newcomer also played her way onto the 2004 College Division All-Virginia Women’s Basketball First Team, making her the only freshman on the squad that was selected by the by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association. A couple of other Lady Cavs also received recognition when the AAC handed out its annual postseason honors. Junior Chrissy Bowen and senior Jessica Owens were named to the conference’s Scholar Athletes Team for their excellence in the classroom.

Lady Cavs tennis squad advances to Region XII tournament
      The UVa-Wise women’s tennis team grabbed second place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament in late April and from there advanced to the Region XII postseason tournament for the first time since 2001. The Lady Cavaliers finished the AAC competition with 19 points, three behind Virginia Intermont College’s tournament-winning 22 points. UVa-Wise freshman
Laura King won the No. 2 singles flight with a thrilling 6-5, 2-6, 7-6 victory over Virginia Intermont’s Esther Mbugua.
      In the tournament finals, the Cavaliers placed contestants in eight of the nine women’s competition flights - five singles and all three doubles teams qualified for the championship round. Amanda Terry took the No. 6 singles title for the Cavaliers, beating VI’s Tonya Stinson 6-4, 0-6, 6-4. Erin Dorsey and Kate Daub won their doubles finals match 6-4, 6-3 over VI’s Stinson and Erin Hall. In the Region XII semifinals the following week, UVa-Wise lost to nationally-ranked Indiana University Southeast in five matches. IU Southeast, ranked 19th in the NAIA national Top 25 poll, defeated UVa-Wise 5-0, ending the Cavaliers’ season. The UVa-Wise women finished the season with an 8-5 overall record after beginning 0-4. The Lady Cavaliers, who sported five freshmen on this year’s team, battled back after their slow start and won their final eight matches of the regular season. UVa-Wise was 6-2 in the AAC and finished just a half game out of second place.

Cavs sweep weekly conference softball awards
During the last three weeks of the softball regular season, UVa-Wise players dominated the weekly top-player awards handed out by the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Junior center fielder Kendall Rainey, sophomore catcher Melissa Barnes and senior shortstop Jennifer Law were each voted the conference’s players of the week by the AAC’s coaches. Senior April Damron picked up the Pitcher of the Week honor twice during the three-week period. Sophomore hurler Dani Benton won the top pitcher honor for the week ending April 20.

UVa-Wise AD delivers Champions presentation
      UVa-Wise Athletics Director Ray Spenilla was a featured speaker at the NAIA’s 63rd annual national convention this spring in Kansas City, Mo. Spenilla, who took over as UVa-Wise’s athletic director last fall, has been a leader in developing the College’s chapter of the Champions of Character initiative, which was establish three years ago by the NAIA to create an environment in which every NAIA
student-athlete, coach, official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition. At the convention, Spenilla spoke about how the Champions program has helped the College’s athletic program build partnerships in the Wise County community and how it has changed the heart of the student-athlete. “Student athletes now have greater empathy for the needs of others - they seek out individuals and groups to assists,” Spenilla said of the Champions program. “This outreach does not stop when the academic year ends. The student-athlete’s continued emphasis on servant leadership follows them in their summer activities, too.” Spenilla has helped establish numerous community service projects at UVa-Wise. The College has been listed twice as an NAIA Champions of Character institution and a year ago won the Appalachian Athletic Conference’s inaugural Champions award. Last spring, President George W. Bush’s Points of Light Foundation recognized the UVa-Wise Athletic Department for its community service and volunteering efforts.

Cavs recognized by strength and conditioning organization
      UVa-Wise athletes take pride in their physical conditioning and are always prepared for the challenges that they face in competition. In April, the National Strength and Conditioning Association recognized the extraordinary efforts of three of those UVa-Wise athletes by listing them as All-American Athletes for their dedication to strength training and conditioning. Senior basketball player Ricky Brown, junior football player Josh Hamm and junior softball player Kendall Rainey were among the 186 collegiate athletes from 80 colleges and universities to receive the NSCA award. The NSCA award program is in its 21st year.