The men’s and women’s tennis team’s season began in February. Currently, the men stand at 1-3 in conference play and the Lady Hawks are 4-1 in conference play. The teams are looking to finish the season strong.

Marc Guerry, junior business administration major, is looking to improve the season and build on the team’s weaknesses.

“We are not doing as well as we have hoped for, but the team is working hard to finish the season with a positive attitude,” Guerry said.

Guerry transferred to Shorter as a junior. Shorter brought him to the U.S. for the first time. He has been playing in the top three seeds since his arrival and has been a contributor for the Hawks.

Coach Orville Adams is happy with the way both teams prepared for the season.

“The men and women have been working hard to get better and pick up from where we left off last season,” Adams said.

Adams expects a lot from Guerry.

“Marc has been one of the most consistent players for us this season,” said Adams.  “We look for big things out of him this year.”

The men’s team has had a difficult start this season. They currently stand 3-13 overall with only seven games left.

Guerry said the team looks to improve as they finish the season.

“We had three of our best players injured at the beginning of the season,” said Guerry. “Everyone is just starting to play at their full potential.”

Senior Candice Laurent has been with the Hawks for her entire college career, where she has been a first-seed player.

Laurent said the Lady Hawks are working hard, focusing on winning NCCAA nationals this season.

“We have been training very hard by practicing and working out,” said Laurent. “We think we have a good chance at bringing the championship home this year.”

Laurent described the bittersweet feeling of playing for the Hawks as she prepares to graduate this May.

“I have enjoyed my time here as a player and a student,” Laurent said. “It is going to be tough for me to leave, but I am ready to move on to bigger and better things.”

Adams reflected on Laurent’s time as a Hawk.

“She has been with us for four years now, and it is always hard to see one of our key players in their last season,” said Adams.

Adams said Laurent will do well after she graduates.

“She is a very hard worker, which will help her in the real world,” Adams said.

The men’s and women’s team play at home on April 5 against Delta State University.

Alan Samson

Staff writer

A perfect start to the season and the Hawks find themselves at the top of their conference and No. 1 in the nation for NAIA. Is this a path to perfection or a road of redemption after last year’s disappointing loss in the first round of playoffs?

“I hope it is a path to perfection and last year’s ending was a big motivator to these returners,” said head coach Chad Warner.

The   Hawks team returns four out of five starters from last year’s squad and this team is rolling through the schedule. They have won both the blowouts as well as the close games so far.

Senior point guard Eric Nix said the key to the early season success is, “the fact that the guys are so selfless and we all know   our role. We are playing for each other.”

With only 10 games left in the season and most of the remaining being in conference, the Hawks are setting themselves up to have one of the best seasons in school history if they can win the majority.

The regular season is a great experience but what any team is judged by is how they do in the post season. The tournaments are what teams play for: championships and bragging rights.

“We are more focused and disciplined this year,” Nix said. “The seniors have really stepped up their leadership and we are meshing as a team.”

With this leadership and the new players stepping into their assigned roles, how far this team will go into the playoffs for a   conference championship or a national championship is completely reliable on the men on the court.

“It’s our last year to really compete for a title since we move to NCAA DII next season,” said junior forward Dante Harvey. “We have to win a championship one way or another, whether it’s conference, national or both but the time is now.”

The team is on its way to a record-breaking season and will have to wait to see how the end unfolds.

Hawks Remaining Schedule

• Jan. 28 – at Lee*
• Jan. 30 – Truett-McConnell*
• Feb. 2 – at Point
• Feb. 4 – Southern Wesleyan*
• Feb. 9 – Emmanual (Ga.)*
• Feb. 13 – at Southern Poly*
• Feb. 16 – at Brewton Parker*
• Feb. 23 – Lee*
• Feb. 25 – at Truett-McConnell*

* Denotes conference game

Matt Green

Guest writer

The men and women’s track and field teams traveled to Bloomington, Indiana recently to   compete in the Gladstein Invitational hosted by Indiana University. The Hawks and Lady Hawks continued preparations for the NAIA Indoor Track and Field   National Championships that will commence in a little over a month.

Once again, Shorter’s student-athletes   showed progress while competing against a host of NCAA Division I schools   that included names such as Oklahoma, Memphis, Southern Illinois, Louisville,   Xavier and Butler, among others. Shorter’s women excelled throughout the   competition.

In the 60 meter dash, Lakeisha Spikes and Brittany   Sewell qualified for the NAIA National Championships with respective times of   7.81 and 7.83. Spikes also competed in the open 200 meter dash and finished   fourth in 25.72 to qualify for nationals. Ashley Ballard ran in the invite   200 meter dash and represented Shorter well, placing 6th in a time of 25.28.