Augusta Jaguars

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Augusta University Jaguars
Logo
University Augusta University
Conference Peach Belt Conference
MEAC (men's golf)
NCAA Division I in golf, Division II in all other sports
Athletic director Clint Bryant
Location Augusta, GA
Varsity teams 13
Basketball arena Christenberry Fieldhouse
Baseball stadium Jaguar Field
Lake Olmstead Stadium
Mascot Augustus
Nickname Jags
Colors
Blue       Gray     
Website www.jaguarsroar.com

The Augusta Jaguars (formerly Augusta State Jaguars and Georgia Regents Jaguars) are the varsity athletics, consisting of six men's and seven women's sports, teams that play for Augusta University (AU) in Augusta, Georgia. All teams compete at the Division II level of the NCAA except for men's and women's golf, which compete at the Division I level. AU competes in the East Division of the Peach Belt Conference (PBC). Men's golf is a single-sport member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and women's golf competes as an independent.

AU's colors are a dark blue and gray. They have two main rivals: the USC-Aiken Pacers, located 30 minutes away and a PBC division foe, and the Paine College Lions, located minutes away in Augusta and a city rival.

Sports

The Jaguars compete in 13 different sports:[1]

Golf

File:Par 3 at Forest Hills.jpg
Forest Hills Golf Club is home to both golf teams

Men's golf

The men's golf team has made a name for itself over the years competing at the Division I level, with multiple NCAA Championships appearances. It made history in 2010, winning the National Championship, and repeating as back-to-back champions in 2011. They annually host a collegiate tournament hosted at Forest Hills. Since 2014, the men's golf team has been a member of the MEAC; it is that league's first-ever associate member in any sport, and also the first school with any level of MEAC membership that is not a historically black institution.

Some alumni include Vaughn Taylor, Patrick Reed, Gary Murphy, Scott Jamieson, and Oliver Wilson.[2]

2010 National Championship

The team's regular season qualified the team for the postseason with nine consecutive top-five finishes, including three wins under head coach Josh Gregory. After finishing sixth in medal play to qualify for the NCAA's new playoff format, the Jaguars defeated Georgia Tech 3-2 in the opening round, Florida State 4-1 in the semifinals, and host Oklahoma State 3-2 to win their first national title. Patrick Reed, Henrik Norlander, and Mitch Krywulycz all won their matches against the top-seeded Cowboys, with Krywulycz clinching the victory on the first extra hole.[3]

In the NCAA National Championship, the team:[4]

  • Patrick Reed; finished T-58 in the medal round, went 3-0 in match play, ended the year ranked No. 9
  • Henrik Norlander; finished 5th in the medal round, went 3-0 in match play, ended the year ranked No. 12
  • Mitch Krywulycz; finished T-51 in the medal round, went 1-2 in match play, ended the year ranked No. 61
  • Taylor Floyd; finished T-72 in the medal round, went 1-2 in match play, ended the year ranked No. 175
  • Carter Newman; finished T-146 in the medal round, went 2-1 in match play, ended the year ranked No. 237

[5]

2011 National Championship

Featuring four future professional players on its roster,[6] the 2011 men's golf squad took down Georgia 3-2 in the final after taking down Georgia Tech 3-2 and then host Oklahoma State 3-2 in the semifinals. The title made the Jags the first team since the 1984–1985 Houston squad to repeat as Division I National Champions.[7]

In the NCAA Championship, the team:[8][9]

  • Patrick Reed; finished T-3, went 3-0 in match play, ended the year ranked No. 4
  • Henrik Norlander; finished T-56, went 1-2 in match play, ended the year ranked No. 16
  • Carter Newman; finished T-50, went 3-0 in match play, ended the year ranked No. 108
  • Mitch Krywulycz; finished T-94, went 2-1 in match play, ended the year ranked No. 121
  • Olle Bengtsson; finished 139, went 0-3 in match play, ended the year ranked No. 330

Head coach Josh Gregory, who led both squads, accepted a job with his alma mater SMU after winning the second title.

Women's golf

The women's program gained steadily competing as a Division I independent on its men's counterpart, competing in back-to-back NCAA Regionals in 2011 and 2012, the team's first back-to-back postseason appearance.[10] The teams hosts an annual tournament at Forest Hills Golf Club that attracts many top-50 teams.[11]

Basketball

Men's basketball

Men's hoops is one of the most popular sports at the university, and are frequently near the top of the PBC standings and show in the national rankings. The 2008–2010 squads set a high standard of success, going to three consecutive Elite Eights, including a national title game appearance in 2008.[12]

Garret Siler graduated holding the NCAA record for field goal percentage, and played a short stint with the Phoenix Suns afterwards.[13] Ben Madgen also enjoyed a highly decorated career as a Jaguar, and went on to a stellar career in the NBL in Australia, where he hailed from.[14]

File:Garrett siler2011.jpg
Siler marks the first Jaguar to have broken into the NBA

NCAA Division II title game appearances: One (2008)
NCAA Elite Eights: Three (2008, 2009, 2010)
NCAA Tournament appearances: Nine, most recently in 2014.

Women's basketball

The women's hoops team has had runs of success, with a 2004 Elite Eight appearance[15] and final ranking in the top 10. They enjoyed a 20-win season in 2012, clinching the PBC East division crown.

The squad competes in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Baseball

The baseball squad frequently plays their games at Lake Olmstead Stadium, which houses the Augusta Greenjackets, a minor league baseball team. They also play at Jaguar Field, located near Christenberry Fieldhouse. The head coach is Jason Eller.[16]

Shannon Wilkerson set a high standard for the team, garnering Division II Player of the Year honors in 2009 and getting drafted by the Boston Red Sox as he became the first player to earn back-to-back All-American honors.[17]

Softball

Augusta softball plays their home games at Jaguar Field, and reached four consecutive NCAA Regionals from 2008–2012 – finishing within one game twice of advancing the Super Regionals in that span.[18] Kacee Camp became the first Jaguar in school history to earn Academic All-American honors in 2012, batting .390 and graduating with a 3.88 GPA in Biology.[19]

Tennis

Men's tennis

Competing in what is regarded as one of the premier tennis conferences in Division II with plenty of teams dotting the NCAA Top 25 rankings annually,[20] the men's tennis team has enjoyed consistent success as they keep qualifying for NCAA Tournament play.

In 2012, the team enjoyed its winningest season ever, notching a 19-10 record as they defeated conference foes Lander and Columbus State, then upset No. 17 Drury and No. 9-ranked Grand Valley State in consecutive matches to make their first Final Four appearance.[21] The team finished the year ranked No. 9 and placed Bernardo Fernandes on the All-American squad, both firsts.[22]

The squad is coached by Micahel McGrath.

Women's tennis

The women's squad has earned nine NCAA Regional berths since 1999,[23] and is coached by Michael McGrath. Their home matches are played at Newman Tennis Center.

In 1992, the women's team won the Peachbelt Conference, under coach Richard Hatfield. Senior Cheri Cathey, juniors Andrea Barnes and Kimberley Kile and Freshman Courtley Winter and Aimee Woo were named to All Conference.

Volleyball

The women's volleyball team hosts their home matches in Christenberry Fieldhouse, and is coached by Sharon Bonaventure. The Jaguars still hold the PBC record for most aces per set, at 3.20 from the 1992 squad. The 2009 edition enjoyed success behind the power of Jessica Howard, who was named a Daktronics Second-Team All-American.[24]

Cross country

Men's cross country

The men's cross country team was restarted in 2011 and immediately made an impact, winning the conference championship in 2011 and then stepping up further by finishing third in the 2013 Southeast Regional to advance to the NCAA National Championships.[25]

They host the Jaguar Invitational annually in Augusta, Ga.

Women's cross country

The women's team set a new program best by qualifying for the 2008 NCAA Championships after a second-place finish in the Southeast Regional.[26] They won three events, with another two top-five finishes on the season. They finished second in the 2011 PBC Championships, and are coached by Adam Ward.

Professional athletes

Name Sport Years at GRU Highest level played
Shannon Wilkerson Baseball 2007–09 AAA baseball – Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox)
Garret Siler Basketball 2005–09 NBA
Gary Boodnikoff Basketball 1999–02 National Basketball League (Australia)
Kavossy Franklin Basketball 1998–99 National Basketball League (Australia) – Harbour Heat
Greg Hire Basketball 2009–10 National Basketball League (Australia) – Perth Wildcats
Ben Madgen Basketball 2007–10 National Basketball League (Australia) – Sydney Kings
A.J. Bowman Basketball 2005–08 Ola Verde – Mexico
Fred Brathwaithe Basketball 2009–10 Germany – Leipzig
Richard Johnson Golf 1991–95 PGA Tour
Henrik Norlander Golf 2008–11 PGA Tour
Taylor Smith Golf 1985–86 PGA Tour
Vaughn Taylor Golf 1996–99 PGA Tour
Patrick Reed Golf 2010–11 PGA Tour
Jamie Elson Golf 1999–2001 European Tour
Gary Murphy Golf 1992–94 European Tour
Scott Jamieson Golf 2002–05 European Tour
David Park Golf 1995–96 European Tour
Oliver Wilson Golf 2000–03 European Tour
Jake Amos Golf 2008–09 EuroPro Tour
Wallace Booth Golf 2004–07 Challenge Tour
James Heath Golf 2003 Challenge Tour
Janne Kaske Golf 2006–09 Challenge Tour
Major Manning Golf 2003–06 Web.com Tour
Jay Haas, Jr. Golf 1999–2003 eGolf Tour
Mitch Krywulvcz Golf 2007–11 eGolf Tour
Carter Newman Golf 2007–11 eGolf Tour

References

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