tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57758571491345948382011-11-27T20:20:35.216-05:00All the news, pictures and more from Mercer AthleticsJ. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.comBlogger1831100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-13906364416954097152010-10-14T00:29:00.001-04:002010-10-14T00:30:46.062-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor/ColumnistThe Mercer women’s golf team had mixed results at this year’s LPGA International Xavier Invitational held at the beautiful course in Daytona Beach, Florida. Finishing 10th out of the 14th place field, all five of Mercer’s travelers had trouble at least once in the tournament, but each showed signs of improvement throughout the three day event.Daytona

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-32632432350728920872010-10-13T23:55:00.002-04:002010-10-13T23:57:27.791-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor/ColumnistPerhaps it was the return of Macon-native Russell Henley in search for a second consecutive Brickyard Collegiate title. Or perhaps it was the nationally ranked field that teed off at the Brickyard at Riverside that brought the crowds to the fairways. Heck, the fact that the Mercer men’s golf team was hosting the event for the 4th year in a row probably

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-85049963997952657352010-10-13T23:52:00.002-04:002010-10-13T23:55:04.310-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor/ColumnistThe Bears finished 13th in this year’s edition of the Brickyard Collegiate, beating out Gonzaga and Boston College in the 15-team field. Although they didn’t grab the headlines at the Brickyard by Riverside Golf Club here in Macon, the tournament once again grabbed national attention by bringing the biggest names in the college golf world to middle

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-17269617865530019242010-10-02T22:19:00.002-04:002010-10-02T22:21:39.043-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodBearZone ColumnistOctober 2, 2010 After winning four of five in mid-September, the Bears seem to stumbling into October’s conference play. After recording a non-conference win against in-state rival Savannah State, Mercer faced two of the A-Sun’s toughest squads in their Nashville road trip to Lipscomb and Belmont. With a team full of experienced veterans and up-and-coming

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-65245795396911727302010-09-30T20:04:00.000-04:002010-09-30T20:05:30.495-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodBearZone ColumnistSeptember 30, 2010 A pair of firsts came along the women’s golf teams’ way recently as they captured their first tournament title of the year and their first outright individual title in several years. Winning the tournament on a playoff hole, Mercer freshman Lacey Fears showed her stuff with a par of low scores (71-72) in the first two rounds before defeating

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-55424171110660526642010-09-30T19:16:00.001-04:002010-09-30T19:18:04.969-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodBearZone ColumnistSeptember 30, 2010 It wasn’t pretty after the first day of the VCU Shootout in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia. The Mercer men carded a team-combined 307, sitting in last place by three strokes. But once again, head coach Andrew Tredway’s team showed why they resemble a modern day Rocky Balboa of the A-Sun. Tuesday, the final day of the tournament, Mercer cut their

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-42333010279010341462010-09-17T13:37:00.001-04:002010-09-17T13:38:47.433-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodBearZone ColumnistJosh Cone can flat out play some golf. The junior showed his potential at the season-opening tournament for the Mercer men’s golf team in Charleston, South Carolina, finishing four strokes back from the eventual winner, John Duke Hudson (College of Charleston). After shooting a 76 during the first round, Cone looked sharp in the final two rounds, shooting 71s

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-29885813313392812872010-09-07T21:18:00.002-04:002010-09-07T21:19:13.157-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodBearZone ColumnistIt had been quite a while since Mercer had someone finish a round in the top spot during tournament play. Freshman Lacey Fears did just that after the first round, leading the Chris Bannister Classic at the Silver Lakes Golf Course in Glencoe, Alabama. Fears would finish 9th in the final standings after finishing +15 for the tournament (72, 77, 82). Mercer

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-91134797900386693902010-09-06T14:04:00.003-04:002010-09-06T14:07:06.375-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodBearZone ColumnistIt took the Bears a while to win their first game, much less a match. Six matches to be exact. This past week was a rough start indeed for Head Coach Noelle Rooke’s squad as they dropped their first six matches of the year before picking up key wins at home for a three-way tie for first place in the Bear Brawl Classic. In their defense, the schedule hasn’t

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-31105323017121164532010-08-31T00:25:00.002-04:002010-08-31T00:34:55.598-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodBearZone ColumnistIt’s a changing of the guard as the 2010 fall season starts for Gary Guyer’s women’s squad. With only nine players on the roster rather than the 12+ during the past two seasons, competition for the top five spots should be a little easier than in years past. Not that there’s a drop off in talent, but solely because there’s less competition on the team. “Going

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-25772400525888912322010-08-31T00:19:00.002-04:002010-08-31T00:22:08.663-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodBearZone ColumnistThis fall, men’s golf coach Andrew Tredway will have a vastly different roster than in years past. Only four players from the 2009 season return, sophomores Thomas Holmes, John Gregory Joseph, Alex Street and Matt Kocolowski. On the eight player roster, the two oldest players on the roster, juniors Josh Cone and Stefan Labuschagne are transfers. Mookie

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-53340154391121845552010-08-29T15:50:00.002-04:002010-08-29T15:53:20.214-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodBearZone ColumnistLeadership? Check. Strong senior class? Check. High expectations? Check that box as well. 2010 could be a banner season for the Mercer volleyball team as they hope to cap the careers of three seniors who have helped turn around a once dismal team. Libby Hansch, Krista Hurley, and Erica Vrvilo have been mainstays in the Mercer lineup for the past three

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-19604846037972066882010-08-28T22:15:00.001-04:002010-08-28T22:18:56.382-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodBearZone ColumnistYou can get a feel for the expectations hovering over the Mercer men’s soccer program when you talk to anyone on the team. All three of my interviewees during the team’s media day echoed the same sentiment: “Our goal is to win the A-Sun and make it to the NCAA tournament.” Brad Ruzzo’s squad returns nine starters on a team that made it to the conference title

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-67468482160913641842010-04-13T22:27:00.001-04:002010-04-13T22:29:30.281-04:00

J. Andrew Lockwood Senior Editor / ColumnistThere were certainly more winners and losers from the Donovan McNabb trade than the two NFL parties involved in the deal, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins. In fact, a few players’ careers are at stake as well in a debacle that affects the entire league. How you ask? Take a moment to consider the two teams in the trade. Both are

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-9317654913969744482010-04-13T22:24:00.002-04:002010-04-13T22:26:52.005-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistAs Mike Raynor’s team dives head-first into the Atlantic Sun Conference slate of regular season games, pitching should be considered a constant. That’s what happens when you have Jenni Holtz and Kari Chambers on your staff. As for the offense, question marks will undoubtedly hang over their batting helmets until they can consistently score runs. After

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-89959766142375236352010-04-13T22:04:00.003-04:002010-04-13T22:24:09.116-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistAfter two days of placing in the middle of the field, the Mercer women’s golf team settled in 8th after the third and final round of the MSU Ocala Spring Invitational. In the team’s final tune-up before the Atlantic Sun Championship Tournament, the Mercer women showed signs of improvement from recent tournaments with two consecutive days of shooting 311

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-28280009709776141252010-04-01T11:17:00.002-04:002010-04-01T11:20:54.376-04:00

Adam HuntSenior Reporter / ColumnistThe Mercer men’s golf team’s exploits at the Linger Longer Invitational ended in disarray due to a scorecard error in the aftermath of the first round.Freshman Matt Kocolowski mistakenly signed for a false score on the 17th hole and the Bears were disqualified from competing in the final two rounds of play as a team. They were, however, allowed to continue to

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-36923666024362042432010-04-01T11:11:00.003-04:002010-04-01T11:21:29.935-04:00

Adam HuntSenior Reporter / ColumnistHaving spent Spring Break resting and recuperating, the Mercer Cycling team sped back into action with an impressive showing at the Georgia Tech Intercollegiate.Racing in the rural suburb of Newnan, Ga., a total of seven riders competed for the Bears in the team trial, individual time trial and road race portions of the event.Saturday’s early morning session

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-10353030049918744462010-03-29T15:30:00.002-04:002010-03-29T15:33:33.017-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistIn mid-February each year, the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues swing into full gear in one of the best kept secrets in all of sports – spring training baseball. It’s the simplest form of the game as the big leaguers go back to practicing the fundamentals of the baseball while the games are often a cornucopia of players young and old. Many of my best

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-79210145277087699582010-03-29T15:23:00.003-04:002010-03-29T15:29:30.036-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistWrestling season quietly came to a close for Mercer’s grapplers this season, but not before an electrifying finish by the women’s team at Nationals in Hampton, Virginia. Finishing near the top of the field to eventual winner Yakima Valley, Mercer’s small women’s team represented the university well on the mat.“Our ladies just wrestled very well this

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-23096535429169465112010-03-29T15:18:00.002-04:002010-03-29T15:22:58.754-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistMercer’s softball team seems to be shaking a tough spring break week of softball with three quality wins in a pair of two-game series against Furman and Campbell. With a series victory against the Furman Paladins, Mercer snapped their seven game losing streak with 5-3 and 2-0 wins. The Bears followed up that series with a double-header split with

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-42783097110992143272010-03-21T21:03:00.002-04:002010-03-21T21:05:31.318-04:00

By Adam HuntSenior Reporter / ColumnistMercer’s cycling team continued their impressive start to their inaugural season with a solid showing at the 2010 ‘Battle of the ‘Boro’ race in Statesboro, Ga.The event was hosted by local rivals Georgia Southern and representatives poured in from 17 colleges and universities around the southeast to participate.The Bears were in search of vital SECCC

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-46744803211694871572010-03-21T20:59:00.002-04:002010-03-21T21:02:21.205-04:00

By Adam Hunt Senior Reporter / ColumnistThe Mercer men’s golf team began their spring schedule in earnest this March, competing in two prestigious events.The first was the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational hosted by the University of North Florida. The Bears fired a total score of 307 on the final day to clinch 15th place. Conditions were tough on the notoriously tricky Sawgrass Country Club

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-15633210895858342832010-03-17T00:09:00.003-04:002010-03-17T00:13:23.564-04:00

J. Andrew Lockwood Senior Editor / ColumnistA major sneaker company launched a huge marketing campaign only a year or two ago that focused on the phrase, ‘We Are Witnesses.’ It was supposed to be the type of campaign that reflects watching athletic greatness, specifically in basketball. Statistical achievements, incredible plays, and re-defining a sport seem to carry the ‘witness’ persona, but

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-20914905586072299242010-03-17T00:07:00.002-04:002010-03-17T00:09:28.481-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnist While the Atlantic Sun conference season has yet to start, Mercer softball continues to make headlines with Sarah Santana receiving the A-Sun Player of the Week honor only a few weeks ago and head coach Mike Raynor surpassing the 100 win milestone recently at a tournament in Atlanta. Santana, a freshman from Valdosta, was honored after the Phyllis

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-3469234630482970372010-03-17T00:04:00.002-04:002010-03-17T00:07:05.523-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistYou build experience quickly when you take on the best teams. At least that’s what Mercer head coach Mike Raynor was thinking when he decided to take his team to Atlanta for the Georgia Tech “Buzz Classic,” to take on Tennessee Tech, Ole Miss, Rhode Island, James Madison, and Seton Hall. Mercer would end up winning 3 of the 5 games including Raynor’s

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-65432170953715598632010-03-17T00:02:00.002-04:002010-03-17T00:04:33.851-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnist A near sell-out crowd in the University Center saw the final game of Mercer’s basketball season come to an end with a 72-66 loss to the Atlantic Sun Champions, the East Tennessee State Buccaneers. After getting past Belmont 87-81 in the quarterfinals and Jacksonville 66-63 in the semifinals, it appeared that the Bears would be the first team to win the

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-89296421411825602112010-03-16T23:59:00.002-04:002010-03-17T00:01:40.214-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistFreshman Kimmy Graff overcame a rough start in Augusta to help lead her team to a 13th place finish at the Administaff Lady Jaguar Intercollegiate. As a team, Mercer finished three strokes ahead of UAB with a combined 326 in the final round to move up in the standings as they prepare for the Atlantic Sun tournament in Florida that is less than a month

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-82631229691439844272010-02-28T22:00:00.002-05:002010-02-28T22:07:07.603-05:00

By Adam HuntSenior Reporter / ColumnistYou can almost smell the excitement in the air here in Macon as the beginning of the 2010 General Shale Brick Atlantic Sun Basketball Championships draws ever closer.The official tournament brackets have been released with the No. 6 Mercer men set to face No. 3 Belmont and the No. 2 Mercer women taking on No. 7 UNF.Don’t forget The Bear Zone is the place to

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-77446802822259037512010-02-22T21:47:00.002-05:002010-02-22T21:51:53.930-05:00

Adam HuntSenior Reporter / Columnist02/08/2010 USC Upstate, L 78-87Mercer senior guards Courtney Ford and LaToya Jackson lit up The University Center floor, combining to score 52 points, but their efforts were not enough to stop USC Upstate from securing an 87-78 Atlantic Sun Conference victory.The Bears were sluggish early on and the physical play of the Spartans kept them in the lead for most

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-6082960686970570362010-02-22T21:27:00.003-05:002010-02-22T21:43:23.909-05:00

Adam HuntSenior Reporter / Columnist02/11/2010 @ ETSU, L 71-83Taking on the defending Atlantic Sun champions in their home arena was always going to be a difficult task. And despite 18 points from sophomore forward Lacy Ramon, Mercer were silenced by a powerful ETSU side who shot 50 percent from the field.After trailing by as many as 22 in the first half, the Bears opened the second frame on a 23

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-61020407829938034832010-02-22T21:24:00.002-05:002010-02-22T21:26:45.101-05:00

Adam HuntSenior Reporter / ColumnistThe Mercer women’s golf team began it spring season with a 17th place finish at the prestigious Hurricane Invitational hosted by Miami University.Senior Monica Kelsey clinched the highest individual finish for the Bears with a 236 total over three rounds of the notoriously tricky par-72, 6,199-yard Miami Lakes course.Freshman Aurelie Wiriath fired a team-best

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-47527493618996634052010-02-22T21:15:00.002-05:002010-02-22T21:20:07.528-05:00

Adam HuntSenior Reporter / ColumnistMercer Cycling is certainly going from strength to strength this Spring having recorded an impressive finish in their first ever event as an official team.Five Bears riders traveled north to Dallas, Ga. for the 8th Annual Lillie Glass Tundra Time Trial last weekend. Originally, the race was due to take place a week earlier but inclement weather forced a

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-49610796140960899522010-02-21T22:01:00.002-05:002010-02-21T22:05:02.201-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistIt was another weekend and another tournament for Mercer’s softball team in Atlanta as they traveled up I-75 to participate in the Phyllis Rafter Memorial tournament hosted by Kennesaw State. The Bears posted a 3-2 record in their five games that stretched from Friday to Sunday including big wins against Tennessee Tech 9-1, Ball State 9-1, and Middle

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-67333128373440544482010-02-21T21:59:00.002-05:002010-02-21T22:01:09.098-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistMen’s Basketball The field of eight teams is now set after the latest weekend of conference play, with every seed still yet to be determined. Currently, Campbell and Jacksonville lead the conference with a 13-5 record, but with a head-to-head matchup this coming weekend, one school will certainly gain an advantage over the other. Belmont and Lipscomb

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-78525438468670161542010-02-21T12:05:00.002-05:002010-02-21T12:06:51.237-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistNorth Florida has improved considerably in all sports since entering the Atlantic Sun conference only a few years ago. In fact, the Ospreys are on track to return to Macon for the General Shale Brick Atlantic Sun Conference tournament next week, but when Mercer caught the Jacksonville-based school in the University Center for the final regular season

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-17057611583475998682010-02-20T21:59:00.002-05:002010-02-20T22:01:02.027-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistAs the Atlantic Sun conference slate comes to a close, the Mercer men’s basketball team picked up a key win against East Tennessee State but also a tough loss against the Campbell Camels on the road in the Bears’ next to last road trip of the season. The narrow six point loss to Campbell, 69-63, came as a result of 20 turnovers on offense and 13 steals

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-15230815890708558982010-02-20T20:52:00.002-05:002010-02-20T20:54:08.584-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistI reached an interesting conundrum just a few days ago in trying to decide what I really wanted to watch on television. The end of the Fox’s Daytona 500 partially overlapped with NBC’s broadcast of the Vancouver Winter Olympic games, specifically the men’s short-track speed skating event, and I was forced to make a decision. While some of you may have

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-24332756446676758302010-02-20T20:50:00.002-05:002010-02-20T20:51:39.307-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistMercer softball’s quest for an Atlantic Sun Championship and NCAA tournament berth began last week with the team’s season opening tournament in Tallahassee. Playing as a visitor in the host Florida State’s tournament, the Bears picked up an early 8-0 victory over Iona before falling victim to Conference USA’s Southern Miss twice 9-1 and 2-1. Florida

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-27983407624815593222010-02-09T11:14:00.002-05:002010-02-09T11:17:08.804-05:00

Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistThe wheels just don’t stop rolling for the Mercer Cycling Team at the moment as plans are being made to host an invitational race in Macon this year.The First Annual Macon Cycling Classic is set to be staged in May and is being jointly hosted by the local Walthall Oil Cycling Team and Mercer’s own racers.The event represents a significant step forward for

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-47584998802398093092010-02-09T11:08:00.002-05:002010-02-09T11:12:36.018-05:00

Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistOnwards and upwards is certainly the catchphrase for Mercer’s baseball team as the new season draws ever closer and they look to clinch their fifth-straight Atlantic Sun Championship appearance.Having finished with a 23-23 overall record last year, the Bears will be looking to post a positive winning percentage, particularly in the all-important Conference

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-61607615047043033412010-02-07T22:29:00.002-05:002010-02-07T22:31:15.394-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editorjames.andrew.lockwood@gmail.comWith the large shift of sports reporting moving to the internet, you can now keep up with the Bears as well as the Mercer sports reporters online at a number of sites. Moving to an online sporting news format, the BearZone is the official source for sporting information from the Cluster’s beat reporters featuring stories that range

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-73646753725841590552010-02-07T22:25:00.003-05:002010-02-07T22:26:59.119-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnistjames.andrew.lockwood@gmail.comThe Mercer men’s and women’s tennis team have started the 2010 season on a roll with lopsided defeats of Alabama State and nearby Fort Valley State. In a 7-0 blanking for the men and the women over the Hornets, both teams picked up their first victory of the year at the South Fulton Tennis Center in Atlanta. Only one

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-2882426071723891832010-02-07T00:57:00.002-05:002010-02-07T00:59:42.156-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnistjames.andrew.lockwood@gmail.comMercer’s softball program has returned to prominence as it was picked to finish 3rd in the conference according to a preseason polls. Senior outfielder Holly Oglesbee and junior pitcher Jenni Holtz also made headlines as they were picked as representative on the 2010 preseason All-Conference team. The team’s 40-19 record

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-51987979893355807912010-02-06T23:55:00.003-05:002010-02-06T23:58:21.175-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Reporterjames.andrew.lockwood@gmail.comLike the old saying goes, “Trick me once, shame on you. But trick me twice, shame on me.” Twice in the same week the Mercer men couldn’t seem to figure out their pesky in-state A-Sun rivals, the Kennesaw State Owls. After falling to the hottest team in the conference 71-69 on a last second shot that clanked off the rim,

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-34758322839077817352010-02-06T23:19:00.002-05:002010-02-06T23:21:32.339-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistWith the onset on the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, I find myself increasingly glued to the most obscure sports at the latest hours on the most low-budget sports television channels. Mogul trick-skiing on Versus at 11:30pm? Something must be wrong with me. Or maybe it could be the disease of ‘Unpopularsporteristis’, commonly known in the

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-44968973261119034672010-02-01T00:25:00.002-05:002010-02-01T00:27:22.413-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Beat Reportjames.andrew.lockwood@gmail.comWith the departure of Mercer’s senior class after this basketball season, some big shoes will be left to fill in head coach Bob Hoffman’s third year. However, until next season, Hoffman will continue to rely on a senior class that includes the Bears’ all-time scoring champion in James Florence, a powerful big-man in

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-6876958064090989532010-01-27T11:58:00.002-05:002010-01-27T12:00:04.026-05:00

By Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistMercer slammed the door tight shut to complete a rousing 60-38 victory over Georgia-rivals Kennesaw State at the University Center.A vocal crowd filled the arena and the Bears gave fans plenty of reasons to stay glued to their seats throughout the crucial Atlantic Sun Conference encounter. The result marked the second-straight win for Mercer and pushed them

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-71292778641953186812010-01-27T11:47:00.002-05:002010-01-27T11:51:51.438-05:00

By Adam HuntSports Reporter / Columnist1/21/2009 @ Stetson, W 69-57 (A-Sun Conference) Mercer raced to a convincing victory at the Edmunds Center thanks to career-high efforts from sophomore Lacy Ramon in both points and rebounds. Guards LaToya Jackson, Courtney Ford and Lindsey Lowrie all notched double-figures in points scored but it was Ramon who stole the show with 20 points, 15 rebounds and

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-46279757212303345252010-01-27T11:43:00.002-05:002010-01-27T11:47:01.921-05:00

By Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistWhile the rest of us enjoyed our winter break, the Mercer women’s basketball team were hard at work, playing no less than nine games in three weeks.Facing a potentially perilous six-game road stretch before Conference action resumed, the Bears were looking to maintain the solid form that had seen them race to a 5-3 early season record.Here The Cluster takes

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-16112241406768629142010-01-27T11:38:00.003-05:002010-01-27T11:41:41.719-05:00

By Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistWhile Mercer cycling may not be an official NCAA team, they certainly don’t pull any punches when it comes to professionalism or dedication to their sport.Created just last year under the guidance of director Shaun Kell, Mercer cycling provides students with a love for life on two wheels a chance to practice and compete at a collegiate level.The team is

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-52496757105637311002010-01-27T11:32:00.002-05:002010-01-27T11:36:40.807-05:00

Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistWith seven influential senior players set to graduate at the end of the semester, Mercer baseball’s head coach Craig Gibson recently revealed his 2010 fall signing class.There will be sizeable gaps to fill as pitcher Lath Guyer and several other starters move on to pastures new. Seven athletes have signed national letters of intent for the Bears, meaning the

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-4019001200394699962010-01-26T11:20:00.002-05:002010-01-26T11:22:28.174-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnistjames.andrew.lockwood@gmail.comWe’re the forgiving kind of sports fans aren’t we? Time and time again we see our favorite sports heroes mess up, take a big fall on the public stage, hide away from the public eye for a while, and then return with an exclusive interview on ABC’s 20/20 or with ESPN’s SportsCenter to save face. This time it was Mark

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-74325247662783639702010-01-24T23:38:00.002-05:002010-01-24T23:40:08.008-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Beat WriterIt was the type of road trip a coach or player would like to forget. Near the top of the Atlantic Sun conference standings going into this weekend’s road trip against Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast, Mercer looked nearly unbeatable. They had defeated Jacksonville, Campbell, and East Tennessee State in January and were playing confident basketball

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-34776109760273577922009-12-12T16:51:00.002-05:002009-12-12T16:54:20.039-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnistjames.andrew.lockwood@gmail.comThursday night provided a much needed break from conference play for the Mercer Bears after dropping two tight contests to Belmont and Lipscomb at home. Taking on the Division II Piedmont Lions, guard E.J. Kusnyer scored a career high 26 points to lead Mercer (4-5, 0-2 ASun) past the outmatched Lions (3-3-) 87-62.

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-77429449691438088952009-12-12T16:15:00.005-05:002009-12-12T16:26:31.767-05:00

Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistHaving romped to victory over Belmont last week with a near-perfect performance, Mercer’s women’s basketball team failed to find the same form against a disciplined Georgia Southern.The 76-45 loss marked the end of a four-game winning streak for the Bears who now have a 4-3 overall record.The Eagles took the initiative right from the tip-off in front of a vocal

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-13334654739790747252009-12-08T19:35:00.003-05:002009-12-10T22:11:41.772-05:00

Adam HuntSports Reporter / Columnisthunty_5@hotmail.comFreshman cross country star Jacob Law has certainly made an impression in his first season as a Bear.The Crestwood, KY native has surged to several strong finishes for Mercer in Atlantic Sun competition, highlighted by a notable 14th place finish at the Conference Championships last month.The 6’ 1” Law is an integral member of the clutch of

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-46756380393881638632009-12-08T19:32:00.002-05:002009-12-08T19:34:16.480-05:00

Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistThe Mercer men’s soccer team fell agonizingly short of clinching the silverware in the final of the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship final. Facing an in-form Stetson at a neutral venue in Buies Creek, N.C., the Bears fought bravely in the second half but could not prevent a narrow 2-1 defeat.The loss marked the end to a somewhat fairytale run which saw Brad

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-10518782000128394412009-12-08T19:29:00.002-05:002009-12-08T19:30:37.790-05:00

Adam Hunt Sports Reporter / ColumnistMercer’s women’s basketball team produced a lights-out offensive display to dispatch Belmont in their second Atlantic Sun Conference encounter of the season.Senior guard Courtney Ford recorded her second triple-double of the season in the 98-69 win and had the University Center crowd singing her name.The mercurial Ford scored 14 points, bagged 12 rebounds and

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-19955343315228021492009-12-08T19:25:00.002-05:002009-12-08T19:29:00.908-05:00

Adam HuntSports Columnist / ReporterMercer’s women’s basketball team snatched an impressive victory over Lipscomb in their Atlantic Sun Conference opener at the University Center.Despite a somewhat lackluster start, the Bears fought back thanks to some rousing offensive play from senior guard Courtney Ford to clinch the 65-59 win. In the first half, the Bison raced to a 16-6 lead in the opening

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-32511215004257537682009-12-07T22:18:00.003-05:002009-12-08T10:51:27.893-05:00

The Bear Zone now has a Facebook page!We will be adding reports and other cool stuff in due course. Make sure you add us if you are a fan of the site.Also, coming soon will be galleries of all the latest photos from Mercer sports teams in action.Clicking the following link will take you to our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you there!http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bear-Zone/

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-31700113567248979392009-12-06T01:17:00.002-05:002009-12-06T01:23:44.151-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnist At one point, the scoreboard was just downright ugly in the last conference game for the Mercer Bears in 2009. Mercer found themselves trailing by 18 points in the first half to one of their biggest rivals in front of a large Saturday afternoon home crowd in the University Center. For whatever reason, the Bears couldn’t seem to buy a shot in the first

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-57091317298802366952009-12-04T11:33:00.002-05:002009-12-04T11:36:13.482-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistIt appeared that Mercer was hungry to erase the disappointment of losing to Lipscomb in front of a nearly sold out crowd last season when the Bears took a 45-38 lead into halftime. However, the Bison proved why they’re the team to beat in the Atlantic Sun with a come-from-behind 98-89 win in front of 2,000+ fans in the University Center. After a 40

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-32861354014537500252009-11-30T14:52:00.004-05:002009-11-30T15:02:36.729-05:00

The Bear Zone is now on Twitter!Keep up to date with all the latest about your Mercer Bears with our new Twitter page. We will update often with exclusive news, pictures and videos. If you already have an account then follow us now. If not, Twitter is an easy and free service to use so you can sign up right away!Clicking the following link will take you straight to our home page. We look forward

Adam Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10811637840037154072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-16775521846842477732009-11-30T13:27:00.004-05:002009-12-10T21:56:03.576-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnistjames.andrew.lockwood@live.mercer.eduGrowing up in the south, I always felt a little out of place when the topic of hunting or fishing was breached. I had caught my fair share of sunfish on my Grandfather’s dock growing up, but I never shot a gun until my sophomore year in college. And even then, it was only for a skeet shooting contest with a few

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-88223788692829101842009-11-23T11:52:00.002-05:002009-11-23T11:56:33.393-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistThere will always be plenty of debate when it comes to crowning a national champion in college football. Some love the current BCS system while others despise it and offer a playoff format as a better solution. While the current bowl structure gives us college football almost every day from mid-December through mid-January, I propose a slightly

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-8448949152650479102009-11-23T11:12:00.003-05:002009-11-23T11:16:40.001-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistWhen you annually sneak up on big-time teams and upset them, the surprise factor starts to wear away. Such was the case when the upset-prone Mercer Bears took on ACC power Florida State on Saturday, as the Seminoles cruised to an easy 89-50 victory. The game wasn’t a testament to how strong of a team Mercer actually is in the Atlantic Sun, but rather a

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-21752761761340053822009-11-20T12:09:00.003-05:002009-11-20T12:12:03.699-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistIt was a blowout from the beginning. The Bears (3-1) took the tipoff to start the game and then proceeded to mount a 16-2 lead before the five minute mark over the Nashville based NAIA Fisk University. Fisk (0-6) seemed to be hopelessly outmatched against Mercer’s starters and top scorers as the Bears would shoot close to 60% from the field in the

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-42906067458797036252009-11-17T16:56:00.002-05:002009-11-17T16:57:59.117-05:00

Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistThe Mercer men’s and women’s cross country teams both clinched top ten finishes at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship in DeLand, Fla. The Bears faced tough conditions at the Stetson-hosted event, with searing heat, a notoriously difficult course and talented opposition all playing a part. The men fielded a young team, with three freshman out of six

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-77034595425699433082009-11-17T16:53:00.002-05:002009-11-17T16:55:30.011-05:00

Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistThe Mercer men’s soccer team surged into the semi-finals of the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament with an emphatic 3-0 win over UNF.Despite having lost to the Ospreys at home just a week earlier in regular season play, the Bears produced a commanding offensive display for the whole 90 minutes.The win improves Mercer’s overall record to 6-10-2 and clinches a

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-70768082769887709292009-11-17T16:51:00.001-05:002009-11-17T16:53:25.979-05:00

Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistThe Mercer women’s basketball team began their season in style with an 80-63 victory over Georgia rivals GCSU.The exhibition game was part of the annual Coaches vs. Cancer event, a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.Having been picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic Sun Conference

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-11406930119558871822009-11-17T16:49:00.002-05:002009-11-17T16:50:47.103-05:00

Adam HuntSports Report / ColumnistThe Mercer baseball team enjoyed a successful conclusion to the fall season with its traditional Orange and Black World Series.The annual event splits the Bears roster into two teams, Grey and White, who then face-off against each other in a five game series.“I thought our World Series was played extremely well,” said head coach Craig Gibson. “During the series

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-88105150800131293052009-11-15T20:51:00.003-05:002009-11-15T20:55:33.766-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistThe Mercer men didn’t disappoint in their first road trip of the season to Rhode Island for the three game World Vision Invitational. Playing Bucknell, Bryant, and Providence, the Bears would win two of the three contests with an explosive offense and with a determined defense. The Bears (2-1) won the season opener 89-80 against the Bucknell Bison of

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-35935285757542650892009-11-15T20:49:00.002-05:002009-11-15T20:51:13.566-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnist They came one win short. After a dream season a year ago, everyone but head coach Noelle Rooke and her players was writing off this season as a rebuilding year, especially when Mercer 6-17 in late October. But funnier things have happened. Rooke’s team hit a hot stretch, winning four straight matches including a 3-1 defeat of the second best team in

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-74896720062144430772009-11-14T01:29:00.003-05:002009-11-15T12:54:51.135-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistAth∙le∙brity – (1) one that plays collegiate or professional sports while capitalizing on the media’s coverage of the team and his/her performance for personal benefit (2) Chad Ochocinco (3) Terrell Owens We might as well define the term that seems to pervade our sports world these days. From the Falcon’s tight end Tony Gonzalez posing nude with his

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-20017780219948646072009-11-14T00:16:00.004-05:002009-11-14T00:22:13.075-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnist Dick Vitale loves to talk about the ‘BMOC’ (Big Man on Campus) during the length of his commentary of a college basketball game. Daniel Emerson is literally a ‘Big Man on Campus.’ Listed at 6’8”, Emerson is a muscular force in the post despite not playing like a true center. He can hit the three pointers just as easily as he can hit the jumper from

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-85210879124284122052009-11-14T00:12:00.002-05:002009-11-14T00:14:33.357-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistWrapping up the fall season, head coach Mike Raynor can rest easy. Not that Raynor really ever stops thinking about softball and his team, but at least for the holidays, he’ll feel good about the upcoming season. In his fourth year at the helm of the Bears, Raynor has taken one of the worst teams in Division I softball and has turned them into

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-10921386577622023592009-11-09T13:39:00.001-05:002009-11-09T13:41:46.343-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistWith professional sports all but removed from Macon, the Mercer Bears are starting to fill the void for a city in need of a sports team. Middle Georgia’s hottest ticket has been consistently improving over the past few seasons and this could be the year that the Bears finally make the big dance. The numbers don’t lie. Seventeen wins last season. Two

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-31735845198480271872009-11-08T18:50:00.002-05:002009-11-08T18:53:01.875-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistCall it the wake-up from hibernation or whatever you want, but the men’s basketball team’s exhibition win over Georgia College and State wasn’t that impressive. Nevertheless, the 69-66 win was better than last year’s result: a 75-72 loss to the Division II school. With the proceeds of the game going to the American Cancer Society, junior guard Jeff

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-25371368250570827362009-11-08T18:47:00.001-05:002009-11-08T18:49:48.593-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistFor the lone senior on the volleyball team Chelsea Gebben, it couldn’t be a better time to turn things around. Winning two matches going into their final home stand, her team would earn two victories to make the Atlantic Sun standings look a little closer. With a Friday night victory over Stetson (1-24, 0-18), the Bears rolled into a Saturday afternoon

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-18799187680506089892009-11-08T18:43:00.003-05:002009-11-08T18:47:07.877-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistIt seems that about this time each year we start to see the same thing on ESPN’s Sports Center every time we turn it on. A handful of head football coaches in the NFL and NCAA are on the ‘hot seat’ and it’s only mid-season. Their teams are often winless or playing well below expectations. Sometimes, the owners or players speak out against the coach in

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-67387935875981542342009-11-05T11:56:00.003-05:002009-11-05T12:00:02.021-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnist Building off of Mercer’s best finish in several years last season, expectations in Macon are sky-high for this year’s team. Led by a formidable core of seniors, this could be the year that the team from middle Georgia makes it to the NCAA tournament. “We’re shooting for the Atlantic Sun championship and want to compete in the NCAA tournament, not just

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-41921883525338410962009-11-05T11:53:00.003-05:002009-11-05T11:56:15.709-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistIn one of the biggest turnarounds in women’s college basketball, Mercer head coach Janell Jones took a 4-26 team in 2007-08 to a 17-14 finish a season later. The unbelievable change in pace saw a tough team post a 9-2 record at home last year while eventually falling to ETSU in the A-Sun Semifinal game 82-60. Led by senior guards LaToya Jackson and

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-4481894564424608242009-11-03T18:40:00.001-05:002009-11-03T18:42:14.290-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistKicking off the collegiate wrestling season at home, Mercer’s grapplers wrestled their way to a second place finish in a talented field that included South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Emory, Georgia Southern, Kennesaw State, and the winner Middle Tennessee State. Finishing second in the team standings by only a six point margin, the Bears saw

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-91197268673614118012009-11-03T01:01:00.002-05:002009-11-03T01:03:19.631-05:00

Adam HuntSport Columnist / ReporterKacie Niemann continued her run of scintillating form to clinch fourth at the Kennesaw State Owl Invitational. The freshman posted the best finish of any Mercer runner, male or female, at the event hosted by the Bear’s biggest Atlantic Sun rivals. The Crestwood, KY native completed the two mile race with a time of 12:23.94. Niemann was followed by junior Clara

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-67889197211225511932009-11-01T20:12:00.002-05:002009-11-01T20:13:44.022-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistIn a heartbreaking loss to the Jacksonville Dolphins (8-6-5, 5-1-5), the Mercer women’s soccer team saw their 2009 campaign come to a close after 3-2 double-overtime shootout loss in north Florida last Friday night. Despite scoring the opening goal and then tying the game back up with five minutes to play, head coach Grant Serafy’s Bears ran out of gas

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-964477138484710972009-11-01T20:10:00.003-05:002009-11-01T20:11:37.384-05:00

Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistMercers’ stellar freshmen fired the men’s golf team to a 15th place finish at the Aldila Scenic City Invitational hosted by the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga. Matt Kocolowski shot a one under par 71 on the final day to lead the Bears. “Koco”, as he is known, turned in the best overall performance, finishing on 225 (+9) and placing 49th

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-30501286376121561452009-11-01T20:05:00.002-05:002009-11-01T20:08:10.159-05:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistFinishing 5th in the Boscobel Intercollegiate in Pendleton, South Carolina, the women’s golf team wrapped up their fall schedule and will take a three month hiatus from tournament play until they return to the links in Miami for mid-February’s Qdoba Invitational. Led by senior Monica Kelsey’s 8th place finish as well as junior Kayli Wicker’s first

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-2156398040032817482009-11-01T20:03:00.003-05:002009-11-01T20:05:12.301-05:00

Adam HuntSports Reporter / ColumnistThe Mercer men’s soccer team clinched a spot in the Atlantic Sun Championship with a nailbiting 2-1 victory over Jacksonville.A bumper crowd filled the Bear Field stands to witness the high octane encounter.It was do or die for both teams who each knew that a win would solidify their place at the coveted Championships.With the win, the Bears record moves to 5-9

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-73599282207286722992009-10-31T21:43:00.002-04:002009-10-31T21:44:43.718-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistIt wasn’t even a close match in the University Center last Saturday as Noelle Rooke’s team smashed the visiting USC-Upstate Spartans 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-11). Posting its second straight win before two more home games this upcoming weekend to cap the season, Mercer (8-17, 6-11) held the Spartans to a -0.011 hitting percentage for the match off of a 10-

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-87248795986429345412009-10-31T13:23:00.002-04:002009-10-31T13:25:41.123-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistWhile Twitter’s widespread use has created somewhat of a culture-media phenomenon during the past few months, several of Mercer’s men’s basketball players hope to use the micro-blogging technology to stay in touch with each other and with their fan base. A handful of players including James Florence, Daniel Emerson, Jake Gollon, Brendan Walker, E.J.

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-17872222925226119482009-10-21T20:11:00.002-04:002009-10-21T20:14:32.074-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistGetting through college with a few bucks in your pocket is tough. It’s the only time in your life when you’re expected to pay someone to work for them. Think about it. You’re out $40,000 every year because you choose to go to Mercer. If you worked harder or were lucky enough, you’re in Macon on a scholarship. But what if you’re a college athlete?

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-30949320082884075812009-10-18T14:22:00.002-04:002009-10-18T14:24:37.452-04:00

Adam HuntSports ReporterThe Mercer tennis teams have been enjoying a successful fall semester in preparation for Conference play early next year.On the men’s side, the team has competed in a trio of prestigious invitational tournaments.Beginning at the Southern Intercollegiates, hosted by the University of Georgia, freshmen Peter Tauchner made his mark. The Bad Voslau, Austria native posted three

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-21776837116904291362009-10-18T14:15:00.000-04:002009-10-18T14:16:23.964-04:00

Adam HuntSports ReporterThe Mercer women’s golf team struggled to find top form at the LPGA Collegiate Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla.However, conditions were tough as the Bears had to deal with searing heat and the notoriously tricky Legends Course.The event, hosted by Xavier, attracted some of the top teams in the nation as well as a handful of Mercer’s Atlantic Sun Conference rivals. The

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-51042466474166850492009-10-14T23:02:00.002-04:002009-10-14T23:03:32.909-04:00

Adam HuntSport ReporterUnfortunately, inclement weather brought a premature end to the third annual Mercer-hosted Brickyard Collegiate Golf Championship.But in the 36 holes that were completed, a somewhat unlikely duo made the headlines for the Bears.Freshmen William Meason and Matt Kocolowski, who had both played just two previous college tournaments, finished on even par to tie for 15th place

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-33639021624715271752009-10-14T13:11:00.002-04:002009-10-14T13:12:09.216-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistAfter a slow start to conference play, Grant Serafy’s women’s soccer program is starting to regain the confidence and swagger they showed last year en route to their first regular season conference championship. Following a 1-1 Florida road trip to Jacksonville and North Florida, the Bears returned to Bear Field in front of their home crowd looking

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-41334002940540668692009-10-14T13:09:00.001-04:002009-10-14T13:10:45.511-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistThe volleyball season continues to get longer and longer for the Mercer women as they fell in A-Sun play to Kennesaw State last Tuesday night 3-1. The four set match came after a weekend where the Bears split matches with opponents FGCU and Stetson on the road. The loss to the in-state rival Owls all but eliminates the Bears from postseason contention

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-85065713094968346522009-10-14T13:07:00.000-04:002009-10-14T13:08:52.612-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistThe men’s soccer team is in a much different position this year after a tumultuous season a year ago. They’ve been at the top or near the top of the Atlantic Sun conference standings nearly all season and with a strong finish to the 2009 campaign, they could make a serious push for a conference title this season. A resurrection of the men’s offense

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-19159573839988628352009-10-13T18:51:00.001-04:002009-10-13T18:54:40.273-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / Columnist While the resurgent men’s soccer team has risen to the top of the Atlantic Sun during the past few weeks, the Bears are starting to believe in themselves again. It took a while, especially after last year’s 2-11-5 campaign, but head coach Brad Ruzzo is seeing quite a bit of production on the field from his players. They’re a step quicker than their

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5775857149134594838.post-53261827667638110042009-10-09T15:53:00.001-04:002009-10-09T15:55:25.551-04:00

J. Andrew LockwoodSenior Editor / ColumnistAfter last year’s 6th place finish in the Eat-A-Peach Collegiate, the Mercer women’s golf program was looking forward to seeing the friendly confines of the Idle Hour Country Club in Macon once again. Gearing up for the tournament that saw national powers Georgia, Florida State, Furman, Coastal Carolina, and Miami (FL) roll through, the Bears fought to

J. Andrew Lockwoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00935532308508708928noreply@blogger.com0