Lynchburg Reporter

Randolph College issued the following announcement on Dec. 31

With the last day of the year 2021 upon us, we look back at the calendar year of Randolph Athletics. There were big wins, record setting performance and notable achievements. Today is the second part of a look back at 2021 starting with the month of September.

SEPTEMBER

Men's soccer Defeats Averett 3-2 in OT
Despite a weather delay, the Randolph men's soccer team did get their game underway with Averett. The WildCats led 1-0 in the second half but the host Cougars went ahead 2-1 in the 75th minute. Evan Blow scored in 79th minute to eventually force overtime. In the second overtime period, Gavin Leverette played a cross past the keeper and to Noah Carney who put it into the back of the net for the game winner.

Women's Tennis Hosts WildCat Invite

The women's tennis team hosted a four-team Invite that included Bridgewater, Hollins, and Pfeiffer. Valentina Santos defeated Ali Keister from Bridgewater 6-2, 6-0. Zu Elkhansa won her match in consolation 6-0, 6-1 over Hannah Miller from Hollins. Cassidy Bell and Jenna Fink also had wins in their singles matches. Doubles won three matches.

Gunter Sets Digs Record

At the Maroon Classic, the Randolph volleyball team defeated Methodist 3-2. Sophomore Kenleigh Gunter totaled 44 digs in the match. It set a new WildCat match record topping the previous record of 36 digs for five sets.

Men's Soccer Secures First ODAC Win in OT

Randolph hosted Bridgewater in the ODAC opener for both teams. The game featured three lead changes and three ties. The WildCats sent the game into overtime in the 86th minutes as Evan Blow scored on a penalty kick. Less than a minute into the extra period, a corner kick by the 'Cats made its way to the front of the goal. A deflection by the Eagle keeper found its way to Parker Aaron who knocked a shot into the back of the net for game winner.

Women's Soccer Defeats EMU in OT

 The women's soccer team hosted its ODAC opener against Eastern Mennonite. The game was scoreless at halftime. Sterlyn Woodward got the 'Cats on the board with her goal at 61:54. EMU finally got the equalizer at 82:32 as Hannah York's corner kick found Samm Livermore who booted it in to tie the contest at 1-1.Woodward got a shot off as time wound down that glanced off the crossbar and out of play. In overtime, a Woodward throw-in made to the front of the goal to Joanne Torres who hit a shot past the EMU keeper and in for the game winner.

Volleyball Sweeps ODAC Matches

Randolph hosted Shenandoah and Hollins in an ODAC Tri-match at Giles Gymnasium. The WildCats went 2-0 on the day with 3-0 wins in both matches. It was the first time in program history that Randolph had swept two conference opponents in one day.

OCTOBER

Kulvivat Advances at ITA Regionals

Alex Kulvivat from the men's tennis team played in the B8 singles bracket at the ITA Southeast Regionals hosted by Mary Washington. Kulvivat won his quarterfinals match 7-6, 6-1 and in the semifinals, despite dropping the first set, he went on to win in a super tiebreaker 5-7, 7-5, 10-5. Kulvivat had a tough battle against his opponent from Goucher in the championship match falling 6-1, 6-4.

Bane Ties Assists Record; Named National Player of the Week

The women's soccer team defeated Sweet Briar 8-0. Senior Sara Bane scored two goals and tallied three assists. Those three assists tied a Randolph game record. Combined with her hat trick against Hollins, Bane's line for the week was five goals and three assists. For her effort, she was named the United Soccer Coaches Division III Women's Soccer Player of the Week. It was her first national weekly recognition along with the program's first.

Galbraith Named New Randolph Director of Athletics

Tom Galbraith was named the new Randolph Director of Athletics on October 15. Galbraith brings decades of experience at all levels of both the NCAA and NAIA to Randolph's growing athletics program. He most recently served as director of athletics for Simpson University in Redding, California, where he spent five years leading the school through unprecedented growth in its athletic programs.

Men's Cross Country Places Sixth at ODAC Championships

The men's cross country team placed sixth out of nine teams at the ODAC Championships for their best finish to date. Cody Thompson had the top time for the WildCats as he came in 22nd overall with a time of 28:03.6. That time ranks sixth on the Randolph All-Time list.

NOVEMBER

Women's Basketball Knocks off Guilford 64-55

The Women's Basketball team improved to 6-1 on the season and 2-0 in the ODAC with a 64-55 win over Guilford. It was just the fifth victory in program history over the Quakers and the first since February 2009. Kylie Stark led the WildCats with 23 points.

Men's Soccer Defeats #1 W&L 3-2 in ODAC Semifinals

Perhaps the biggest win of the Randolph men's soccer happened in the ODAC semifinals against Washington and Lee. With the game in overtime and 26 seconds away from a second extra period, Evan Blow was fouled inside of the penalty box. Blow went up and calmly made the penalty shot to set off a wild celebration. The win for the WildCats not only handed the Generals their first loss of the season, it was the first win for Randolph over W&L since 2013 and the first ever on the Generals' home field. The WIldCats advanced to their first ODAC Championship game since 2015.

Tomi-Lauren McGinnis Named Scholar Athlete of the Year

Junior Tomi-Lauren McGinnis from the volleyball team was selected as the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Scholar Athlete of the Year by the league's athletic communications directors. She is the first Randolph volleyball scholar athlete since the creation of the award in 2003.

Men's Basketball Defeats Mary Baldwin 119-15 in Overtime

The first home men's basketball game of the season was a record breaking one for the WildCats as the 119 points scored was a new team game record. CJ Loving scored a career-best 35 points and was one point from tying the game record for Randolph.

Men's Cross Country Places 18th at NCAA South-Southeast Regionals

The men's cross country had its best finish at the NCAA South/Southeast Regionals as they came in 18th. Tanner Cochran led the way for the WildCats with an overall time of 27:56.3 which was a lifetime best for him and the fifth-fastest time in program history.

DECEMBER

Roberts Breaks Men's Swimming School Record

Josh Roberts from the men's swimming team broke the school record in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:09.42. It topped the previous record of 2:09.91 that he set at the 2020 ODAC Championships.

Evan Blow Named All-American

Capping off a remarkable season for the Wildcats, Evan Blow was named a First Team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches organization. He is the First All-American for the men's soccer program since Corey Sindle in 2013 and the first overall for Randolph Athletics since Anthony Quinn from men's track and field in 2017.

Original source can be found here.