AU ROUNDUP: Hastrup named McWhorter Scholar

Special to the News

Published: April 6, 2008

BIRMINGHAM — Auburn University swimmer Kristen Hastrup and University of Alabama golfer Joseph Sykora have been named recipients of the 2007-2008 Southeastern Conference H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive announced Sunday. The awards will be formally presented to the student-athletes during the annual awards banquet at the league’s spring meetings in Destin, Fla. on May 29.

The two were chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from SEC universities and will each receive a $10,000 postgraduate scholarship, provided by AT&T.

“The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Award is the highest honor a student-athlete can receive in the Southeastern Conference,” said Slive. “Kristen and Joseph have displayed dedication and commitment to success in all phases of their lives that have made them excellent selections for the McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Award. The SEC and AT&T are extremely proud to honor these two student-athletes for their accomplishments.”

Bonner named honorable mention All-American
ATLANTA — The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and State Farm announced the 2008 NCAA DI State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team.  Auburn junior DeWanna Bonner was recognized as an honorable mention All-American. 

Bonner, a native of Fairfield, led Auburn on both sides of the ball this season and became just the second ever Tiger player to lead the team in scoring and rebounding three consecutive years. She is the league’s second leading scorer with 18.4 points and grabbed an SEC best 10.0 rebounds per game. Both averages rank her in the top 30 in the nation. 

Bonner was Auburn’s leading scorer in 18 of the 31 contests she played in and notched 15 double-doubles in that span. Bonner also ranks in the top 10 in the SEC in field goal percentage, free throw percentage, steals, blocks, offensive rebounds and defensive rebounds.

Cielo sets another record in Ohio Grand Prix
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Cesar Cielo set a new Auburn and South American record on Sunday at the Ohio Grand Prix as he won the 100m freestyle with a time of 48.34. He breaks his own Auburn record of 48.49, set earlier this year at the Missouri Grand Prix.

The win is the first for Cielo at the Ohio Grand Prix, one of seven events in the Toyota Grand Prix Series, after he finished second in the 50m free on Friday.

Cielo led wire-to-wire in the race, going out in 22.99 in the first 50 meters, and held off Michael Phelps to take the win. Phelps finished second in the event with at time of 48.41.

Softball swept by South Carolina in doubleheader
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Gamecocks rallied for three runs in the fifth to come away with a 3-2 Game 2 victory and complete a double-header sweep of the Auburn softball team Sunday afternoon.

Auburn dropped to 31-11 overall and 9-7 in the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina improved to 19-15 overall and 7-7 in the SEC.

In Game 1, South Carolina pitcher Melissa Hendon (8-8) threw a one-hit shutout as the Gamecocks claimed a 2-0 victory. Hendon fanned nine and did not issue a walk. The only hit she allowed was a leadoff single to Brittany Scott in the fourth inning.

Men’s golf concludes regular season in Texas
The No. 15 Auburn men’s golf team will conclude the regular season portion of its 2007-08 schedule today and Tuesday in the Morris Williams Intercollegiate at the par-71, 7,412-yard University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, Texas.

Jay Moseley will lead the Tigers in the no. 1 position for the sixth consecutive tournament.  Glenn Northcutt will play the no. 2, Patton Kizzire will play no. 3, Gordon Strother will play no. 4 and Steven Groover will play no. 5.

Men’s tennis takes win at South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The 26th-ranked Auburn men’s tennis team broke a four-match losing streak Sunday as the Tigers defeated No. 57 South Carolina, 4-3, in Columbia. The win is Auburn’s first road win in the SEC this season and its first 4-3 victory since beating LSU on March 2.

Auburn evened up its overall record at 10-10 on the season and improved to 4-6 in the SEC. The Gamecocks fell to 9-10, 1-8 in conference play. The Tigers wrap up their regular season on Saturday with a 5 p.m. match at Alabama.

Women’s tennis tops South Carolina at home
Auburn sophomore Jil Hastenrath clinched Auburn’s 4-3 conference victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.

The Tigers improved to 14-6 overall and 4-6 in conference play. Hatenrath’s victory is the second clincher she has had this year for the Tigers.