As a part of our 30th Anniversary celebration, the Peach Belt will take a year-by-year look at the events and stories that helped shape the league. The PBC Chronicle will be released six times during the 2020-21 academic year, each edition looking at a five-year stretch as we relive and remember the past 30 years. Part 2 looks at 1996-2001.
1996-97
The Peach Belt at the Olympics
The 1996 Atlanta Olympic games was, and still is, the largest event ever held in the southeastern United States and many Peach Belt coaches, athletic trainers, staff members and student-athletes served as volunteers. Called the Centennial Olympic Games, it featured more than 10,000 athletes from 197 countries and was held from July 19 to August 4, 1996. In addition to the venues in the Atlanta area, several PBAC schools were in close proximity to Olympic events:
Columbus, Ga. (Columbus State) - Softball
Savannah, Ga. (Armstrong State) - Sailing
Jonesboro, Ga. (Clayton State) - Beach Volleyball (first year as an Olympic sport)
Gainesville, Ga. (North Georgia) - Rowing
PBAC member institutions were heavily involved in the coordination and management of these facilities from game operations in Columbus to medical administration at rowing. Peach Belt Conference sports information directors were also involved in media coordination and statistics at the games. Michael MacEachern (USCS) was a press steward at baseball, Bob Stoner (Lander) was a venue photographer at team handball, Torye Hurst (PBAC) was an interview room manager at tennis, Mike Peacock (CSU) was an assistant competition manager at softball, Steve Ruthsatz (KSU) served as an interview room manager for baseball and Ken Gerlinger (Clayton St.) was on the stats crew for men's and women's basketball.
Enter the Ospreys
On Oct. 1, 1996, the Peach Belt announced that the University of North Florida would become the 12th league member, starting with the 1997-98 season. This was momentus for several reasons, mainly that UNF became the first school in Florida to join the league, expanding the PBAC's footprint. UNF made the move to NCAA Division II in 1994 and was the only public institution to be a part of the Sunshine State Conference. UNF won the 1994 DII women's tennis national title and won women's tennis and men's golf championships in the NAIA.
UNF would remain in the Peach Belt for eight years before becoming the first conference school to depart for NCAA Division I. During their tenure, the Ospreys won five baseball championships, one men's and two women's cross country titles, one women's soccer title and two tournament titles, three softball championships and the softball tournament twice, two men's tennis titles and two tournament championships and a PBAC-record eight straight volleyball regular-season championships along with five volleyball tournament titles.
Columbus State Men's Golf, Lander Men's Tennis Capture National Championships
The spring of 1997 brought the PBAC two more national titles as Lander won their fifth-straight men's tennis crown and Columbus State won their third men's golf championship in five years.
The 1997 Bearcats opened the finals with a 5-1 win over Central Oklahoma before meeting Armstrong Atlantic in the second round and shutting out the Pirates 5-0. Lander then beat Barry 5-1 in the semis and West Florida 5-1 in the championship. That run also included Lander's sixth-straight PBAC Tournament championship and first PBAC regular-season championship. For those who are questioning that, 1997 was the first year that the PBAC held conventional regular season for men's and women's tennis. Lander went 20-0 during the year and 7-0 against conference teams.
Columbus State won their third men's golf title in 1997 in one of the tightest NCAA finals ever. The Cougars edged North Florida (they year before they joined the Peach Belt) 1,149 to 1,153. CSU was led by Jon Drewery who shot a 66 in the final round (tying a course record) as the Cougars shot six-under as a team to build on their one-stroke lead following the third round. Jaco Rall finished in third overall and led CSU with rounds of 67-68-71-74 to finish at eight-under at the Legend Trail GC in Scottsdale, Ariz. Wilfredo Morales was tied with Drewery in sixth with back-to-back 69s to close out the tournament.
Kennesaw State Breaks Through - Advances to Elite Eight
The 1996-97 Kennesaw State women's basketball team became the first PBAC program, men or women, to reach the NCAA Elite Eight. The Owls were nearly unstoppable that year, going 30-2 overall and 17-1 in PBAC play. KSU won what would be their only PBAC tournament title with a thrilling 78-77 victory over Georgia College before hosting the South Atlantic Regional.
KSU beat Fayetteville State 99-65 and Bowie State 74-68 to become the first PBAC team to capture a regional title. From there, they advanced to Grand Forks, N.D., and the NCAA Elite Eight, which brings together the winners from the eight geographic regional to determine the national champion. KSU met a tough Bentley team in the first round and fell 55-48. Joanna Cuprys became the first PBAC women's basketball player in league history to be named an All-American by the WBCA.
1996-97 Commissioner's Cup Champion
Kennesaw State
PBC Hall of Famers first year of activity:
Chiffonia Adderson, Francis Marion
Jennifer Brabson, Francis Marion
Krissy Burt, Francis Marion
Henrik Ronnevig, USC Upstate
Other 1996-97 Notables
Kennesaw State softball beat Columbus State 3-1 in 17 innings in the NCAA South Atlantic Regionals. The 4-hour, 46-minute game was ranked #10 in a list of the top 20 games in PBC history for the league's 20th Anniversary in 2011. Starting pitchers Brenda Farrell of Kennesaw State and Chera Owens of Columbus State both went the distance and share the PBC record for innings pitched in a game to this day and the game itself remains one of two 17-inning affairs in PBC history.
1997-98
Lander Extends Streak to Six
The Lander men's tennis team won their sixth straight national championship in 1998, defeating Barry 5-1 in the national championship match. The Bearcats also went undefeated in conference play for the second straight season, running their record to 17-0 over the first two years the league used a regular-season schedule and won 10 of the 12 all-conference awards presented that year. Lander went 20-0 overall in 1998, running their winning streak to 40 straight dual matches without a loss.
Goin' Pro
Nine PBAC baseball players were selected in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft in 1998, a record for the conference at that time. Prior to the 1998 season, no more than six players had been taken in any single draft. That draft would start a trend as eight more players were taken in 1999 and seven in 2000. Armstrong State's Doug Sessions was the first PBAC player taken in 98, selected by the Houston Astros in the 13th round.
Basketball divisional play
The Peach Belt began basketball divisional play in the 1997-98 season for the first time in conference history. The league was divided into north and south divisions with a 16-game regular-season conference schedule. With the addition of North Florida, who began their full conference participation that year, and Clayton State, who completed their transition and were full DII members for the first time, the 12-team league did not want to put 22 games on the conference schedule. The north division consisted of Augusta, Francis Marion, Lander, UNC Pembroke, USC Aiken and USC Upstate while the south held Armstrong State, Clayton State, Columbus State, Georgia College, Kennesaw State and North Florida.
North Florida Volleyball Reaches NCAA Tournament
In their first full year as a member of the PBAC, the North Florida volleyball team became the first conference school to reach the NCAA Tournament. The Ospreys went 11-1 in their first full season in the conference. Despite losing in the PBAC Tournament championship match to Francis Marion, UNF received the first at-large bid ever for a PBAC team and played in the NCAA South Regional where they fell to Tampa. UNF would go on to play in six of the next seven NCAA Tournaments.
KSU's Jones Swings for the Fences
In 1998, Kennesaw State's Jason Jones had what may be the greatest single season of baseball any PBC player has ever had. His stat line from that season would be the envy of most major-league players: 66 games, .359 average, 26 home runs, 103 RBIs. His 1999 season was almost as prolific with 23 home runs and 93 RBIs. The PBC Hall of Famer remains tied for first in single-season home runs and RBIs and he is currently second in career home runs and RBIs. In 1999, he became the first PBC player to be named the National Player of the Year. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers and played 40 games at the major league level.
1997-98 Commissioner's Cup Champion
Francis Marion
Other 1997-98 Notables:
- Francis Marion became the first PBC basketball team, men or women, to win a game at the NCAA Elite Eight. The FMU women's team won their first South Regional 62-52 over Bowie State to advance to the Elite Eight, where they downed Arkansas Tech 69-61 in overtime. Led by PBC Hall of Famers Jennifer Brabson and Chiffonia Adderson, the Patriots also won their first PBAC Tournament title that season.
1998-99
Lander Men's Basketball Reaches Elite Eight
The Lander men's basketball team became the first PBC squad to reach the Elite Eight in 1999. The (then) Senators, under the leadership of second-year head coach Chipper Bagwell, finished the regular season in a three-way tie for the best record in the PBAC at 13-3 and lost in the semifinals of the conference tournament to Georgia College. However, the Senators got their revenge over the (then) Colonials, beating GC 49-46 in the second round of the South Atlantic Regional in Milledgeville. Lander then went on to beat Winston-Salem State 47-46 in the regional final, becoming the first PBC team to win that event and advance to the Elite Eight. Their reward upon arriving in Louisville, Ky., was a meeting with #1 (and eventual national champion) Kentucky Wesleyan. Lander gave it everything they had, but fell 74-69. That 1999 Lander team started a trend, as PBC men's basketball teams have (to date) won nine regional titles.
 |
| USC Upstate's Henrik Ronnevig leads USC Spartanburg in the opening round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament against West Florida. |
USC Spartanburg Men's Soccer Takes Their Shot
The 1998 USC Spartanburg men's soccer team reached the national championship game for the second time in program history. Playing in a tournament hosted in Spartanburg, the 2nd-ranked Rifles (now the Spartans) cruised through the regular season, going 7-0-0 in conference play. In the PBAC Tournament, they outscored their opponents 14-2 in three games to take the title and then beat West Florida 3-1 in the first round of the NCAA regional. That set up some fireworks in the national quarterfinal as USCS took on #1 and undefeated Lynn. The two teams were ranked 1 and 2 in every poll in 1998 and the game reflected that as the Rifles went into overtime tied at 1-1 before getting the game winner. That win propelled them into the final four where they beat Mercyhurst 2-0 to advance to the final. There, they met sixth-ranked Southern Conneticut State, who had beaten them in the 1995 national final. The 1998 game was much closer, but the outcome was the same as SCST won 1-0 on a goal in the eighth minute. The legacy left by the USC Spartanburg men's soccer team stands up to this day as no other PBC men's soccer team has advanced to the national championship round and only one other to the final four.
What's In a Name?
As the world prepared to enter the 21st century, some PBC schools began to re-evaluate their mascot choices. Given the burgoning of the information age and the ability for people all over the world to interact with an athletics program, some of the more historic names needed to be revised. Georgia College began that trend with the 1998-99 season, retiring the Colonials brand in place of the Bobcats, which they still carry today. Lander was next in 2003 as the Senators were put to bed in place of the Bearcats, followed by USC Upstate (having already changed the school name) putting down the Rifles and bringing on the Spartans. North Georgia was the most recent (as of this writing) to make a move, leaving the Saints behind in 2013 in favor of the Nighthawks. Curiously, the GC and Lander changes gave the conference five cat mascots: Jaguars, Cougars, Bobcats, Bearcats and Mountain Lions.
1998-99 Commissioner's Cup Champion
Francis Marion
PBC Hall of Famers first year of activity:
Lilya Bityakova, Georgia College
Annamaria Karai, Francis Marion
Dan Kenney, UNC Pembroke
Dusty Rhodes, North Florida
Other 1998-99 Notables
- The Lander men's tennis title train kept rolling along, picking up national crown #7 with a 5-1 win over Barry in the final.
- The Kennesaw State baseball team finished off its run of four straight World Series appearances by reaching the national championship game for the second straight season.
- The USC Aiken men's golf team finished in second place at the NCAA Championships. The Pacers were also the national runners-up in 1995 and 1996. But don't worry, their time is coming (stay tuned for Volume 3 of the PBC Chronicle).
- The PBAC did not hold a baseball tournament starting in 1999. The tournament would not return until 2005. The PBAC also suspended hosting a softaball tournament in 99, but that returned in 2001.
1999-2000
KSU's Venalainen Wins Cross Country National Championship
Kennesaw State's Marjo Venalainen carved her name into PBC history by winning the 1999 NCAA Women's Cross Country national championship. A freshman in the fall of 1999, the Finnish native exploded onto the scene, winning the PBAC Championship in a time of 18:17.9 which, at the time, was the second-fastest 5k ever run at the PBAC Championship. She then proceeded to win the NCAA South Regional and advance to the nationals as an individual (KSU finished fourth in the region that year, North Florida was the only advancing PBAC team). At the nationals, she continued her dominance, using a late surge to edge Adams State's Kim Bosen by three seconds, winning the title in 20:48.2. Not only was she the first PBAC winner of the women's cross country title, no other conference runner had ever finished in the top 10. The 1999 campaign was the start of what would become one of the most celebrated individual careers a conference student-athlete has ever had with three straight PBC championships (which no other woman has ever done to date) and a second straight national title (see below). Venalainen was inducted into the KSU Hall of Fame in 2011.
PBAC Adds Women's Soccer
The Peach Belt announced that it would begin women's soccer as the league's 12th championship sport on Oct. 1, 1999. The conference had not added a new championship sport since its initial expansion in 1993. Teams had slowly been adding the sport with Francis Marion and Clayton State starting in 1995. North Florida followed in 1996 with USC Aiken in 1997 and Lander in 1998. It was USC Upstate's addition of the sport for the fall of 2000 which gave the PBAC the magic number of 6 sponsoring schools that allowed the conference to add it as a championship event.
The Digital Age Arrives - Peachbelt.com Launched
The PBAC was among the first Division II conferences to go all-in with the announcement of a comprehensive web site, peachbelt.com, in August of 1999. Prior to that, the league had been actively exploring the use of this new digital information service - the world wide web - with the creation of a PBAC basketball tournament website for the 1999 tournament. That site was a success and the conference rapidly moved towards a complete site with full informaiton about all league sports and news. The first PBAC website was built and maintained by Web-Guys.com and, for its time, featured one of the more comprehensive and robust web offerings among DII conferences. The PBC has, of course, been at the forefront of digital offerings ever since with four website providers over the next 20 years, including the current iteration with Sidearm Sports that you are reading now.
Lander Runs the Streak to Eight
The Lander men's tennis team won their eighth straight national championship, defeating Hawaii Pacific 5-2 in the final in Pensacola, Fla. The 2000 season saw the league begin to catch up with the Senators as Lander fought Armstrong State in the PBAC championship match to a 5-4 win. The two would meet again in the NCAA national quarterfinals with Lander, on familiar ground, winning 5-2. The Senators would then dispatch Ouachita Baptist 5-1 in the semis to face HPU in the final. At the time, the eight straight national titles was tied for the longest streak in Division II history alongside CSU Bakersfield's eight straight swimming and diving titles. Since then, Drury won 10 straight swimming and diving titles from 2005 to 14 to take the top spot, but Lander - to date - is still tied for second all-time.
1999-2000 Commissioner's Cup Champion
North Florida
PBC Hall of Famers First Year of activity:
Jami Cornwell, USC Aiken
Julia Roudkovskaya, Georgia College
David Robinson, Georgia College
Other 1999-2000 Notables
- USC Aiken's Jami Cornwell was named the PBAC Freshman of the Year in women's basketball AND softball. No other PBC student-athlete, before or since, has earned Freshman of the Year honors in two sports. Cornwell was inducted into the PBC Hall of Fame in the inaugural class.
- The Columbus State women's basketball team advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history and defeated Emporia State in the first round to advance to the final four.
- Georgia College men's basketball reached the NCAA Elite Eight. The Bobcats went 13-3 in the regular-season in conference, but were upset in the first round of the PBAC Tournament. They responded with their first regional championship, beating Columbus State 68-62 in the final to move to the Elite Eight where they fell to Seattle Pacific 77-65.
- The Kennesaw State softball team played in the National Championship game. It was the third of a five-year stretch where KSU reached the World Series, but their only finals appearance of that run. KSU fell to North Dakota State 3-1 in the game.
2000-01
Welcome to the PBC
The Peach Belt officially retired the 'athletic' from its name to start the 2000-01 season. The move was made to recognize the reach of the conference beyond athletics. From its founding, the PBC had expanded beyond just sports with events such as the cheerleading, dance team and pep band competition, a student art show and a literary magazine. Conference leadership felt this should be reflected in the name, so the 'athletic' was dropped and the PBAC became the PBC, the name that stands to this day.
Columbus State Runs the Table (Almost)
The 2000-01 women's basketball season was dominated by the Columbus State Cougars in a way that (up to that time) had never been done before in the conference. The Cougars became the first conference women's team to be ranked #1 in the nation as they went undefeated in the regular season before winning the PBC Tournament and the NCAA Regional. CSU was 30-0 when they beat Southern Indiana in the first round of the Elite Eight and finished 31-1 when they fell to Cal-Poly Pomona in the national semifinal. The legacy of that team resonates to this day; their 27.0 scoring margin remains the highest in league history as does their 13.5 turnover margin. The 31 wins was the most by any conference team until Clayton State won the title in 2011.
Venalainen Repeats as National Champion
Kennesaw State's Marjo Venalainen won her second consecutive women's cross country national championship, becoming one of seven women to date to repeat as national champions. As a sophomore in the fall of 2000, she ran the 6k in 21:33.6, winning by 10 seconds and setting a course record at Prado Park in Pamona, Calif. She won all seven meets she ran in 2000 and extended her win streak to 12, including her second-straight PBC title in a time of 17:32, which still stands as the eighth-fastest 5k run in PBC meet history.
2000-01 Commissioner's Cup Champion
North Florida
PBC Hall of Famers First Year of Activity:
Zsofi Golopencza, Armstrong State
Other 2000-01 Notables
- North Florida won the first PBC women's soccer championship in the fall of 2000. The Ospreys were 5-0 in conference play and also won the first PBC women's soccer tournament title 2-0 over Francis Marion. Both UNF and FMU would advance to the NCAA Tournament.
- Lander's incredible streak of eight straight men's tennis national titles came to a close with a loss to Drury in the NCAA quarterfinals. But the impact of that streak was still very much alive as coach Joe Cabri was named the ITA Coach of the Decade in 2001.
- Some fresh faces joined the PBC: Art Inabinet as FMU baseball coach, Paul O'Neil as UNCP baseball coach, Mark Immelman as CSU golf coach, Lars Andersson as UNCP women's soccer coach and Ken Gerlinger as the PBC's Director of Media Relations. Why point these out? Because they are all still there.
This concludes the second edition of the PBC Chronicle (see volume 1 here). The next edition will look at the years 2001-02 through 2005-06. This chronicle is not intended to be comprehensive, there are many, many notable events that there is simply not room to include, so please forgive us if we left out something that was important to you.
The stories curated here were done so with the assistance of a group of former and current PBC Sports Information Directors and the conference cannot thank them enough for their help: Lindy Brown (USCA), Chad Jackson (Armstrong), Michael Hawkins (FMU), Torye Hurst (PBC), Michael MacEachern (USCS), Frank Mercogliano (Augusta), and Bob Stoner (Lander).