AU athletics year in review: Jaguars' cross-country and volleyball make history in 2021
By Chris Rickerson | Sports editor
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to affect the athletic seasons, Augusta University sports still went on and had an overall successful 2021 year.
The AU volleyball team made history in 2021, winning its fourth straight Peach Belt Conference Championship and making it to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. AU Coach Sharon Quarles led the Jaguars to a 25-9 record and all the way to the Elite Eight until eventually losing to the 2021 volleyball Division II champion Tampa University.
AU volleyball had five players voted on the PBC All-Conference in Chloe Allen, Kylie Martin, Alyssa Frazier, Alexis Diaz-Infante and Holland Martin. Allen also won the PBC player of the year award in her final season as a Jaguar.
The AU men’s cross-country team continued its streak in 2021 as well, winning the Jaguars’ third straight PBC title and the Jaguars fourth in five years. AU became the second team in league history to win a championship with a perfect score of 15. The Jaguars were led by PBC coach of the year Adam Ward and runner of the year Kai Brickey. Brickey became the first runner at AU to win the individual conference title and was able to run at the NCAA Division II nationals in Florida.
Although the Jaguars women’s cross-country team didn’t capture a PBC title, they were still led by star runner Mackenzie Taylor. Taylor was named the PBC runner of the year and won her second individual conference title.
Back in the spring, Brickey and senior Kimball Hunter had outstanding seasons in long-distance track competition. Both Brickey and Kimball were named PBC runners of the week during the season. Kimball won the steeplechase in the PBC championships and Brickey was second in the 1,500-meter run. Kimball and teammate Derrian Wright were named NCAA Division II all-academic athletes.
While AU is known for its strong golf programs, the Jaguars recently have not had as much success in recent years but gained some potential stars for upcoming years. In the 2021 fall season, freshman Chloe Holder joined the AU women’s golf team and won the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate. Holder showed a lot of potential in her short term at AU and could be a future star for the women’s team.
AU’s men golf team brought in CJ van Wyk, younger brother of former top AU golfer Ben van Wyk, who looks to help bring some more young talent to the roster.
AU athletics also had some negative news in 2021 as Dip Metress, head coach of AU’s men’s basketball team, was suspended for his involvement in helping a student-athlete cheat on a virtual exam. Former assistant coach O’Neal Armstrong was fired due to the incident. Metress sat out the first three games of the 2021-22 season.
Although AU’s men’s basketball had some bad news in the offseason of 2021, the Jaguars have started off this season better than ever before. AU’s men team is 9-1 and ranked No. 12 in the Division II national rankings. The Jaguars were ranked eighth before losing their conference opener at Columbus State.
The women’s basketball team, coming off a rough COVID-19 affected season, has started out 8-2 so far. Both teams will look to continue their hot starts and finish strong going into the 2022 year.
The AU men will play at Emmanuel today (Dec. 31) at 2 p.m. The women’s game with Emmanuel was called off due o COVID-19.
Other AU sports may have not had the best seasons but look to bounce back in 2022. Baseball, softball, tennis, men and women’s golf, track & field, and tennis ramp up in the spring season.
Contact Chris Rickerson at crickerson@augusta.edu.
The AU men’s cross-country team won yet another Peach Belt Conference championship. At the top of the page, PBC volleyball player of the year Chloe Allen serves. (Bell Ringer photos)
