SALUQI CORNER: Saluqis round out year with record-breakers and return to normal

By Keith Gentry 

The 2021-2022 Saluqi athletic year was a cause to celebrate in itself. For the first time in two years since the pandemic, Southwest's athletics department returned to a “normal” season for the soccer and men’s and women’s basketball, baseball and softball teams. The baseball and softball teams ended their season in the regional tournament - it was their first full season since the spring of 2019! Read more about the College's teams’ wins in the Saluqi recap below.

Congratulations to all our athletes for a stellar year! 

WOMEN’S SOCCER

The Lady Saluqis’ soccer team, under interim head coach Shawn Loth, finished with a 2-4 record in the TCCAA and losing to Columbia State 2-1 in the semifinals of the conference tournament. Wins were a 2-0 shutout of Columbia State at home and a 4-3 win on the road over Dyersburg State Community College. 

Three players were selected to the All-TCCAA team – sophomore goalkeeper Iztel Balanzar, sophomore defender Olivia Ivey, and freshman forward Theona Whitmore. Balanzar led the TCCAA with 144 saves and ranked second with a .762 save percentage, while Ivey was also a two-year starter. Whitmore led the team in goals, assists, shots and shots on goal in her first season with the team.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Coach Andrea Martre’s women’s basketball team won eight games this season including a 6-8 record in the TCCAA. Conference wins were Motlow State Community College (twice), Dyersburg State, Columbia State Community College, Volunteer State Community College and Roane State Community College. Their season ended with a loss to Roane State in the quarterfinals of the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Tournament.

Sophomore guard Trinity Taylor was honored at the tournament as a member of the All-TCCAA team, which was selected in a vote by the conference’s coaches. In addition, Trinity was invited to participate in the NJCAA Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Weekend July 20-23 in Atlanta, Georgia. She was the Lady Saluqis’ leading scorer with a 16.3 average which also ranked her third in the TCCAA. In addition, Trinity was second in the conference in three-point percentage (33.0) and was also among the leaders in steals (2.0 per game) and free throw percentage (76.3). She scored in double figures in 17 of 20 games including a career-high 29 points in the Lady Saluqis’ win over Motlow State.

Other top players were sophomore guard/forward Daisha Seltzer, who averaged 8.2 points per game and was also among the team leaders with a 80.6 free throw percentage and 3.5 assists per game, sophomore guard Breundria Ward, who averaged 5.5 points and 6.2 rebounds and was second on the team with 29.0 minutes played per game, and freshmen Cailynn Knox (6.4 points and a team-leading 8.4 rebounds per game) and Demiyah Gatlin (8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game).

MEN’S BASKETBALL

In Jarrett Stephens’ first season as head coach of the men’s basketball team, the Saluqis got hot late in the season, winning nine of the last 12 games to finish regular season. They then defeated Walters State Community College in the quarterfinals of the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Tournament before losing to Dyersburg State in the semifinals. The Saluqis won a total of 14 games on the season and were 11-7 in the TCCAA with wins over Chattanooga State Community College, Cleveland State Community College, Columbia State Community College, Dyersburg State, Jackson State Community College (twice), Motlow State (twice), Volunteer State (twice), and Walters State.

Three Southwest men's basketball players were honored at the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Tournament in Dyersburg as members of the All-TCCAA teams, which were selected in a vote by the conference's coaches.
Sophomore guard James DeJesus was voted first team All-TCCAA. DeJesus led the team and ranked 5th in the conference with 17.6 points per game and was also among the TCCAA leaders in free throw percentage (81.9%), assists (2.7 per game), steals (2.0 per game) and three-point field goals made (57). He scored in double figures 18 times with a high-game of 31 points against Chattanooga State. 

Two Saluqis were selected second team All-TCCAA - sophomore forward Arecko Gipson and sophomore guard Brandon Mason. Gipson was the team's second leading scorer at 14.3 points per game, led the team in rebounding (6.0 per game) and was second in field goal percentage (49.8%). He scored in double figures 22 times with a high-game of 22 points against nationally-ranked John A. Logan and posted double-doubles (points/rebounds) against Holmes, Dyersburg State and Jackson State. Mason was the team's third leading scorer with a 14.1 average, led the team in assists (2.8 per game) and was second in steals (1.6 per game). He scored in double figures in 11 of the 12 games he played, including a high-game of 25 points in the Saluqis' win over Dyersburg State.

Eleven players averaged at least 14 minutes played per game, nine started at least seven games, and nine averaged at least five points per game. Players among the team statistical leaders were freshman guard Kamrin Jones (8.7 points per game), sophomore guard Decorio Smith (8.0 points and 2.5 assists per game, 49.4 field goal percentage, 37.5 three-point percentage), sophomore forward Juan Cajelli (5.9 rebounds per game, 46.9 field goal percentage), Jarren Nunez-Radden (4.2 rebounds per game), Will Farris (2.2 assists per game, 35.1 three-point percentage), sophomore forward Mason Matthews (70.6 free throw percentage), and freshman guard Fabian Nelson (70.4 free throw percentage).

BASEBALL

The Southwest baseball team, under head coach Erik Schoenrock, won 26 games including five in TCCAA play. Conference wins were against Jackson State (a three-game sweep), Motlow State, and Cleveland State (a 1-0 shutout in the regular season finale.) In the TCCAA/NJCAA Region VII Tournament, the Saluqis defeated Volunteer State 11-8 in the play-in game before losing to Walters State and Motlow State. 

Pitcher Colton Brumley was named first team All-TCCAA in a vote by the conference’s coaches. Colton posted a 6-5 record with a 2.97 earned run average and a Southwest-record 97 strikeouts. In addition, he led the conference in complete games and innings pitched. 

The top hitter for the Saluqis was Preston Ford, who led the team with a .372 batting average, .448 on-base average, .558 slugging average, 14 doubles, 7 home runs, 52 runs batted in and 111 total bases. Also among the team leaders were Brady Holloway (.329 batting average, 14 doubles, 7 home runs, 37 runs batted in), Mitch Austin (.305 batting average, 12 doubles, 42 runs batted in), and Blake Rowe (.297 batting average, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 37 runs batted in). In addition to Brumley, other top pitchers were Avery Hastings (5 wins, 56-1/3 innings, 54 strikeouts) and Austin Herold (3 wins, 51-1/3 innings, 43 strikeouts).

Colton Brumley - All-TCCAA

 

SOFTBALL

The Lady Saluqis’ softball team, under head coach Keith Gentry, won 14 games including conference wins over Motlow State (twice), Cleveland State, Columbia State, Jackson State and Roane State. The 2022 squad set a new Southwest single season record with 45 home runs, led by freshman rightfielder Shelbe Sisk with 15 homers. Sisk also led the team with 52 runs batted in, 92 total bases, and a .640 slugging average.

Sophomore catcher/third baseman Taylor Chastain led the team with a .379 batting average and .439 on-base average. She was also among the team leaders with eight doubles and five home runs and stole 19 bases without being caught. Freshman centerfielder/pitcher Laura Kirkpatrick was the team’s leadoff hitter. She batted .281 with five home runs, 18 runs batted in, 16 stolen bases and a team-high 42 runs scored. In the pitching circle, Kirkpatrick led the staff with 60 strikeouts and tied sophomore Faith Lecker with five wins. Lecker led the pitching staff with 37 appearances, 21 games started, and 138-2/3 innings pitched. Another freshman, catcher/third baseman Madalyn Scott, was the second leading hitter with a .365 batting average, .413 on-base average, eight home runs and 38 runs batted in. Sophomore middle infielders Chloe Dunn and Alyssa Nash started every game. Dunn was outstanding at second base with a .939 fielding average and 14 double plays while Nash led the team with 136 assists. 

In This Issue...

• From the President
• American Association of Community Colleges elects President Tracy D. Hall to national board of directors
• SALUQI CORNER: Saluqis round out year with record-breakers and return to normal
• Southwest names Cory Major new VP of Student Affairs
• External Affairs expands division with new grants writer and PR Coordinator
• POLICY MATTERS: Southwest adopts new and revised policies
• HONORS ACADEMY ALUMNI: Where are They Now?
• Southwest selects Rosie Britton to spearhead recruitment and K-12 partnerships
• Southwest inspires more than 300 Memphis Youth in Entrepreneurship
• Tennessee Small Business Development Center awards Taiwo Stanback of Youdle Rising Star Award
• Southwest returns to in-person celebration for 2022 Student Honors and Awards Convocation
• Allied Health’s new chemistry analyzer brings state-of-the art technology to MLT students
• Two Southwest students accepted into renowned ImagineU Entrepreneurship Program
• Jennifer Townes named finalist for TBR’s Staff Member of the Year Award
• Joanitha Barnes named recipient of Southwest’s 2022 Faculty and Staff Award
• Cody McDowell lands dream job after internship with U.S. Court System
• Mitchell Grimm’s perseverance rewarded as TBR Student of the Year finalist
• Freshmen Saluqis commit to Southwest during inaugural academic National Signing Day
• Student Development inducts 64 leaders into NSLS; elects new SGA and CAB board members
• Dual enrollment students from Arlington High School attend double graduations
• Southwest students receive TBR recognition as top honor society scholars
• Phi Theta Kappa Upsilon Delta Chapter incorporates new members at 2022 induction ceremony
• TBR names Raquel Adams SOAR finalist for Faculty Member of the Year
• Southwest faculty, staff and student reach new heights as finalists in TBR’s Soar Awards
• Southwest’s first Expungement Clinic draws big crowd in the Memphis community
• Southwest’s 2022 Faculty and Staff Awards a slam dunk for winners and participants
• Southwest celebrates return to tradition at Twenty-Fourth Commencement
• Creative Printing Services internship elevates student’s professional creativity
• Southwest’s Foundation shows gratitude to community donors at inaugural appreciation luncheon
• Southwest names Sheila Bouie as Dean of Health and Natural Sciences
• Southwest selects Sherria King new dean of humanities, social sciences and mathematics
• Welcome Aboard!