Senior Spotlights
5/9/2020 10:00:00 AM | General
Equestrian
Molly Coyle (Finance) closed out her four-year career on the College of Charleston equestrian team qualifying for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone Finals three-consecutive years. During her senior campaign, she earned reserve high-point rider honors at the Lander IHSA Show in the fall and qualified for Zones in Intermediate Flat in the spring. In 2019, she was the regional champion in the Novice Fences class and high-point rider at the Georgia Southern IHSA Show. As a sophomore in 2018, Coyle qualified for Zones in Novice Flat. The Cougars reached nationals twice as a team in 2017 (placing sixth overall) and 2018 (placing eighth overall). There, Coyle competed in team Novice Fences both years. The native of Davidsonville, Md., will graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in finance with minors in marketing and leadership. Her post-grad plans include going into financial advising and private wealth management.
"From the moment I came to CofC, it didn't just feel like a college or a campus — it was home. I will forever cherish the four years I was lucky enough to call myself a Cougar. I am incredibly grateful for my coaches, advisors and trainers, who worked together tirelessly to ensure my success both athletically and academically. I am fortunate to call my teammates and friends I have made here, my family. Thank you for the unforgettable memories CofC and Go Cougars!" – Senior Molly Coyle
Men's Cross Country
Hayden DiBona (Biology) appears multiple times in the College of Charleston men's cross country program's record book as one of the top runners in school history. He currently ranks second all-time in the 8K (24:53.78) and 10K (31:25.6) and owns five of the Top 25 times in the 8K and four of the Top 25 times in the 10K. A local product from Mt. Pleasant, DiBona was an All-Colonial Athletic Association performer in 2017, finishing seventh at the conference meet. He also placed in the Top 20 all three years and was a two-time CAA Runner of the Week selection. A highly-decorated student-athlete majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry, DiBona is a South Carolina Palmetto Fellow and an Otto B. German Scholar with plans of attending medical school. He serves as an emergency room technician at Roper St. Francis Hospital, working with nurses and physicians in treating and stabilizing patients in addition to running tests and performing CPR. DiBona interned at a neuroscience research lab at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and completed a five-week internship at Base Hospital Horana in Sri Lanka in the summer of 2017.
"My experience at College of Charleston has helped me grow in so many ways. I'll definitely miss wandering around campus with all of the friends I've made here." – Senior Hayden DiBona
Women's Basketball
Cailin Dorsey (Biology & Public Health) has been a consistent performer both on-and-off the court for the College of Charleston women's basketball program. She played in 85 career games, making 20 starts while logging 296 points, 133 rebounds and 35 assists throughout her four years at The College. Dorsey served as a team captain during her senior year. She became the first Cougar to receive CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honors in program history in 2018-19. A member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, Dorsey is a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative and Vice President of the school's Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society. She earned the CofC Department of Health and Human Performance's department-wide Renowned Role Model Award in 2020. In addition, Dorsey has shadowed at several institutions including Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Pediatrics, Duke University Hospital and the East Cooper Medical Center. With a cumulative 3.86 grade-point average as a double major in biology and public health, the Raleigh, N.C., native plans to attend MUSC in May to begin coursework towards her doctorate degree in physical therapy.
"The past four years at the College of Charleston were the best years of my life. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have gone to CofC and represented The College on the basketball court. I will hold onto the teammates, friendships and memories I made here forever." – Senior Cailin Dorsey
Women's Indoor Track & Field
Kayla Ennis (French and Foreign Language Education) has been an exceptional hurdler, while also competing in sprints as a member of the College of Charleston women's track & field team. She left her mark in the school record books with the sixth-fastest time in the outdoor 400-meter hurdles (1:05.02). A native of Pelion, S.C., and a first-generation college student, Ennis has succeeded on the track and in the classroom, while balancing a full-time job at Kickin' Chicken throughout her career. She served as Vice President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) during the 2019-20 school year, coordinating conference-wide fundraisers and participating in the Colonial Athletic Association SAAC Leadership Summit to discuss and vote on legislation for NCAA Division I Athletics in June of 2019. Ennis also served as Co-President of the French Club on campus and completed a 15-week clinical internship as a middle school teacher this spring. During her internship, the French and foreign language education major read to students, organized a student reading room and offered classroom help and encouragement as part of a community service project at North Charleston Elementary School.
"As a first-generation college student, my experience at College of Charleston was life changing. I'm eternally grateful to have been given the opportunity to learn and grow among so many wonderful individuals." – Senior Kayla Ennis
Beach Volleyball
Lauren Freed (Special Education) has been a steady presence on the court for both the College of Charleston volleyball and beach volleyball programs over the last four years. The Troy, Ohio, native has been a stalwart both in the classroom and on the playing surface for The College. The Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Preseason Watch List honoree is the all-time leader in career winning percentage (.682) and ranks fourth all-time in career wins (54) in the school's beach volleyball record books. Freed and her partner, Kennedy Madison, compiled an 18-6 record and earned American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) Top Flight recognition during the 2019 season. She also represented the Cougars at the 2019 USA Volleyball Collegiate Beach National Championships advancing to the quarterfinals alongside partner Logan Manusky. Freed is set to graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in special education.
"I cannot say enough about how the College of Charleston volleyball program has impacted my life. I feel incredibly grateful to have gone through my college career playing alongside some of the best teammates and people I've ever known and being coached by some of the greatest minds in the game. The relationships I have formed with my teammates, coaches, athletic trainers, academic advisors, and everyone in between, are so dear to my heart and I know these friendships are for life. I am a better person, because of my time at CofC. I know I will always have a family here." – Senior Lauren Freed
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
Simone Harris (Public Health) has established herself as one of the top throwers in College of Charleston women's track & field history. The Greenville, S.C., native, and two-year team captain set the school record in the outdoor discus when her throw of 147 feet, 6 inches broke a 14-year-old mark in 2018. Harris also ranks second all-time in the hammer throw (157-10) and third all-time in the outdoor shot put (44-2 ½). She scored at the CAA Championships in the discus in 2018 and the shot put in 2019. In the program's indoor record book, Harris ranks second all-time in both the shot put (43-7 ¼) and weight throw (55-0). Off the field, she has been active in the Charleston community with over 100 hours of volunteer work at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital. Harris completed a public health internship at the Shifa Free Clinic and cared for youngsters as a church childcare worker at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. The public health major also participated in the USC Upstate-BMW Manufacturing Co. Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Academic Outreach Camp and served as a home healthcare aid for Heart of the Carolinas in the summer of 2019, in Mauldin, S.C.
"My time at College of Charleston is one I'll never forget as it helped me learn to find my own way. I'll always cherish the people I've met and the many lessons I've learned." – Senior Simone Harris
Softball
Summer Jenkins (Geology) has been a consistent performer as a member of the College of Charleston Softball pitching staff. A local product from Summerville (S.C.) High School and team captain in 2020, she appeared in 86 career games with 41 starts and had 20 wins, three shutouts and a 3.80 ERA. Jenkins came up big in the most important games including a berth on the CAA All-Tournament Team in 2018 allowing only two runs in 15.1 innings. She also won two games against UNCW in the final series of 2019 to help the Cougars qualify for the postseason. Jenkins has served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is a member of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, the geology honors college at CofC. The work in her major included an independent study collaborating with a geology professor dealing with flood mapping on the Charleston Peninsula. Jenkins gives back to the local softball community in the form of pitching lessons. She is engaged to be married in October and is considering a career in coaching or research for the Department of Natural Resources.
"My teammates not only became my lifelong friends, but my lifelong sisters." – Senior Summer Jenkins
Women's Soccer
Rachel Kim (Accounting) has been a superstar on-and-off the pitch for the College of Charleston women's soccer program. An All-Colonial Athletic Association Rookie Team and All-CAA Second Team honoree during her four-year career, she made 65 appearances with 52 starts and recorded four goals and one assist for the Cougars. Kim made a lasting impression on The College as she was recently honored as the J. Stewart Walker Cup Award recipient – the highest honor bestowed upon a student-athlete by the athletics department. Recognized by her peers, she also won the Most School Spirit Award in back-to-back years and has been a part of CofC's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). This past school year, Kim served as SAAC President and helped start an annual department-wide food drive to aid the Cougar Food Pantry, a student-driven initiative on campus to help students facing food insecurity. Originally from Ellicott City, Md., she assists her local club soccer team as a coach and teaches soccer to youth. An accounting major and finance minor, Kim will intern at a local accounting firm in Maryland this summer and is hopeful to attend graduate school in the fall.
"It's really hard to put my experience at The College into words, but I am extremely grateful for all of the amazing people I've met during my journey at CofC. From my past and present teammates and coaches, to my advisors and to my fellow Cougs, everyone has had a major impact on me. I'm lucky to have had the amazing experience I was able to have. I won't forget a second of it. Go Cougars!" – Senior Rachel Kim
Baseball
Kris Kuhn (Biology) capped a solid career on the diamond with the College of Charleston baseball program. The Summerville, S.C., native filled a key role on the Cougars' pitching staff over the last several seasons eating up valuable innings out of the bullpen. Kuhn fanned 57 batters over 50 and one-third career innings including 10 strikeouts in four and two-thirds frames during the shortened 2020 campaign. Off the field, he is a member of the CofC Honors College, an associate member of AED (Pre-Professional Health Honors Society) and a perennial Charleston Elite 15 honoree, which is awarded to the student-athlete with the highest term grade-point average from each of The College's varsity sports. Kuhn plans to attend medical school after graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology this spring. He has volunteered for multiple area organizations including the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center emergency department, the Dream Center Free Health Clinic and Kids On Point – an after school mentoring program for kids in the Charleston area. Kuhn has also job shadowed at Lowcountry Pediatrics, Roper St. Francis ER and Ophthalmology and Solomon Family Dentistry.
"I am grateful for my time at The College, both academically and athletically. I have no doubt that it has prepared me for what's next." – Senior Kris Kuhn
Men's Basketball
Sam Miller (Economics) closed out his two-year career on the College of Charleston men's basketball team having played in 105 career games with 28 starts. This season, the 6-foot-9 forward made the game-winning bucket and scored a career-high 20 points in a memorable win over Hofstra at TD Arena. The unsuspecting sharpshooter was tops for the Cougars in 3-point field-goal percentage with a 42.4 percent accuracy and 74 made treys for his career. He reached double figures in scoring on 19 occasions and brought down a career-high 14 rebounds twice versus rival UNCW and USC Upstate. Prior to Charleston, Miller started his collegiate career at the University of Dayton and was a part of the Flyers' back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2016 and 2017. From Alexandria, Va., he will graduate this spring with a bachelor's degree in economics and his favorite class at CofC was sports econometrics. Miller's post-grad plans include playing professional basketball and later coaching.
"I will always cherish my time at the College of Charleston. It has been like a family since the day I showed up – and will be forever. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful community." – Senior Sam Miller
Volleyball
Mandy Napierala (Communication) concluded her College of Charleston volleyball career with a stellar senior campaign in 2019. The native of Rochester, N.Y., totaled 480 kills and 107 blocks over the last two seasons, while helping the Cougars reach the semifinals of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) in 2018. Napierala paced the Cougar attack with 288 kills in 2019 and accumulated 85 blocks during the 2018 campaign. She is an outstanding student as well carrying a 3.707 grade-point average and is on track to graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication and a minor in marketing. Last spring, Napierala completed an internship with Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS). She has post-grad plans to either pursue a professional playing career in Europe or return to CofC for the 2021 beach volleyball season.
"My time on the College of Charleston volleyball team has been the most valuable and memorable three years. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I was given that allowed me to learn some of the most important things about volleyball, life and myself that I will have forever. I am thankful for the coaches that have poured time and compassion into me, taught me and pushed me to grow. I am also so thankful for professors that have invested in my development and the academic and athletics support staff that have been involved in my success. The amazing friendships I have made are deeply cherished and will last a lifetime. I truly believe I have grown into a better version of myself here at CofC, and for that I will always be thankful." – Senior Mandy Napierala
Women's Tennis
Anastasia Palaska (Business Administration) has been a key contributor for the College of Charleston women's tennis program winning 39 career singles and 41 career doubles matches throughout her four-year career with the Cougars. The Volos, Greece, native, is also a great leader on-and-off the court with the younger members of the squad. She has been a active member of the prestigious Schottland Scholars leadership program on campus and holds a 3.5 grade-point average majoring in business administration. Palaska will return to the singles and doubles lineup next season and is extending her academic program to include a second major in hospitality & tourism management and a minor in project management.
"My time at CofC has been the most exciting adventure of my life. It may have been challenging to be far away from home, but this school has made it easy for Charleston to become a home away from home for me. I'll be forever grateful for the people I've met along the way. All of my advisors, coaches, professors and friends will always be a part of me. It is a special school, in a very special place, and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to experience it." – Senior Anastasia Palaska on her time at #TheCollege
Women's Golf
Anna-Theresa Rottluff (Business Administration) has been a major contributor to the success of the College of Charleston women's golf team throughout her four-year career. The Cougars earned their highest national team ranking (No. 24 by Golfweek) in program history in the Fall of 2019. They also won the Colonial Athletic Association Championship title and competed at NCAA Regionals in 2018. During her junior campaign in 2019, she was selected to the All-CAA First Team competing and starting in all 11 tournaments with a career-best 71.67 single-season stroke average. A two-time CAA Women's Golfer of the Week honoree hailing from Dusseldorf, Germany, Rottluff has played in 38 career tournaments with six Top-10 finishes. As a freshman, she shot a career-low 67 in the second round of the Palmetto Intercollegiate to tie the second-lowest round ever by a CofC women's golfer. The business administration major with a concentration in finance interned during the summer of 2019 with Coroplast, a major German-based company that specializes in supplies for the automotive industry. Twice honored on the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team in 2018 and 2019, she is currently studying to take the GMAT exam this summer. Rottluff will return to the Cougars' lineup next season, while attending graduate school for her master's degree in business administration.
"It's impossible to put my experience and the time I've had at CofC into words. I am forever thankful I got to be a part of such an amazing program and to call the College of Charleston my home away from home. I can't thank my teammates, friends, coaches, professors and advisors enough for making these past four years an exceptional college experience. Go Cougars!" – Senior Anna-Theresa Rottluff
Coed Sailing
Nicole Simon (Political Science and International Studies) enjoyed a stellar career as a member of the College of Charleston sailing program and a stalwart on the women's team. Originally from Coronado, Calif., she was part of the Cougars' back-to-back Leonard M. Fowle Trophy-winning seasons in 2016-17 and 2017-18 and has several regatta victories to her credit. Simon is a double major in political science and international studies with a concentration in Latin America and the Caribbean and a minor in Spanish. She was selected to participate in the Global Ambassadors Program, which offers mentoring, extracurricular and international experiential learning designed for students interested in careers in international service organizations through the CofC School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs. Simon has made the CofC Honor Roll and President's List multiple times, while also representing the sailing program as its Charleston Elite 15 honoree. She hopes to complete a graduate program abroad after graduation this spring.
"I am so grateful for the time I have spent at the College of Charleston. The opportunities I have been presented with, experiences I have had and the people I have met, helped me continue to grow over these four short, but incredibly impactful years." – Senior Nicole Simon
Men's Golf
Logan Sowell (Sociology) has already etched his name in the record books as one of the best to ever play for the College of Charleston men's golf program. He recently became only the fourth player in school history to be honored on the Division I PING All-Region Team. Before the team's spring season was cut short due to COVID-19, Sowell led the Cougars with a team-best 71.17 stroke average playing and starting in all four tournaments. He claimed his first collegiate tournament win at the Puerto Rico Classic shooting 9-under par in a 75-player field comprised of 10 Top 100-ranked golfers in February. During his junior year in 2019, Sowell became the sixth player in program history to compete at NCAA Regionals as an individual. He shot a career-low, final-round 65 that season at the Trinity Forest Invitational – tied as the fifth-lowest round ever by a CofC golfer. The 2019 Colonial Athletic Association All-Tournament Team honoree has made six Top 5 finishes throughout his career and 10 inside the Top 10. He also earned nods on the All-CAA First Team in 2019 and All-CAA Second Team in 2018. A five-time CAA Men's Golfer of the Week selection, Sowell is on track to graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in sociology and coaching minor. The Kershaw, S.C., native, will return next season to the Cougars' lineup.
"My time at CofC has been the best four years of my life. The College has provided me with the opportunity to live out a childhood dream of playing golf at one of the highest levels – and for that, I'll be forever grateful. Along the way, I've met some of my best friends and made memories that I'll cherish for a very long time." – Senior Logan Sowell
Men's Tennis
Easton Thomas (Marketing) has been a solid contributor for the College of Charleston men's tennis program. He has amassed 19 career singles and 22 career doubles wins throughout his four-year career at The College. During his junior year, he played primarily at No. 1 doubles and No. 1 and No. 2 singles for the Cougars. This past season, Thomas served as team captain and took pride in his leadership role with the underclassmen on the squad. Off the court, he teaches tennis each summer to the first family and members of Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. Thomas also volunteers at his local church in his hometown of Johns Creek, Ga. The marketing major looks to pursue a future career in the marketing field, while continuing to teach tennis.
"The past four years here at the College of Charleston has meant the world to me. The experiences, friendships and memories I have made are unforgettable. Being a part of the tennis team and family here is special. I will always be proud to be a CofC alumnus." – Senior Easton Thomas
Offshore Sailing
Sam Tobio (Supply Chain Management) has been a crucial component in the success of the College of Charleston's offshore sailing team over the last four years. The native of Sarasota, Fla., helped the offshore sailors capture the program's sixth ICSA Keelboat National Championship title last fall. He and the Cougars also claimed the program's second Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup in 2019. Tobio also crewed in a pair of second-place finishes at the Southern Collegiate Offshore Regatta and McMillian Cup during the 2018-19 season. He is a member of the CofC Honors College and a Beatty Scholar in the CofC School of Business. Tobio has interned at several area manufacturing companies and hopes to secure a supply chain or operations role with a manufacturing company after graduation.
"The sailing team and athletics program at CofC have been an amazing experience over the past four years. The support network in these programs have helped me excel in athletics and academics simultaneously. I am incredibly grateful for that." – Senior Sam Tobio
Women's Sailing
Alie Toppa (Public Health) concluded her career with the College of Charleston sailing program with back-to-back Leonard M. Fowle Trophies, a pair of ICSA All-America honors and a Gill Coed National Championship in 2019. She represented the Cougars at each of the last three Sperry Women's National Championships placing second in 2018. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native has played a key role in more than a dozen regatta victories including back-to-back Nelson Roltsch Team Race wins and a 20-point victory in her final collegiate regatta at the Navy Spring Women's in March. She has devoted much of her free time working with the Charleston chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to protecting the world's oceans and waterways. The public health major plans to pursue a post-graduate sailing career, while coaching this summer in Newport, R.I.
"My time at CofC has been some of the best years of my life. Being a student-athlete on the sailing team has given me so many memories and taught me so much. I felt so privileged to travel every weekend and sail with all of my closest friends. My teammates and coaches have been such a big part of my college career and I am thankful for each and every one of them." – Senior Alie Toppa
Men's Soccer
Michael Waggoner (Finance) has played a key role for the College of Charleston men's soccer team. While only playing in two games with one career start for the Cougars, he provided a greater role as a leader for the underclassmen on-and-off the field. Waggoner currently serves as an intern with Hummingbird Search Partners, a private equity firm in Charleston. He is also heavily involved with the CofC School of Business Investment Program serving as a U.S. Economist, Energy and Materials Analyst. Originally from Memphis, Tenn., Waggoner's post-grad plans include securing a full-time position in financial services in New York City.
"I am forever grateful for the friendships and community that welcomed me as an out-of-state freshman in 2016. Throughout my time at CofC, I have grown as a person and professional through my academic experiences with the business school and investment program as well as my men's soccer career. I cannot thank my teachers, coaches, teammates and friends enough for creating an exceptional college experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life." – Senior Michael Waggoner
Molly Coyle (Finance) closed out her four-year career on the College of Charleston equestrian team qualifying for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone Finals three-consecutive years. During her senior campaign, she earned reserve high-point rider honors at the Lander IHSA Show in the fall and qualified for Zones in Intermediate Flat in the spring. In 2019, she was the regional champion in the Novice Fences class and high-point rider at the Georgia Southern IHSA Show. As a sophomore in 2018, Coyle qualified for Zones in Novice Flat. The Cougars reached nationals twice as a team in 2017 (placing sixth overall) and 2018 (placing eighth overall). There, Coyle competed in team Novice Fences both years. The native of Davidsonville, Md., will graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in finance with minors in marketing and leadership. Her post-grad plans include going into financial advising and private wealth management.
"From the moment I came to CofC, it didn't just feel like a college or a campus — it was home. I will forever cherish the four years I was lucky enough to call myself a Cougar. I am incredibly grateful for my coaches, advisors and trainers, who worked together tirelessly to ensure my success both athletically and academically. I am fortunate to call my teammates and friends I have made here, my family. Thank you for the unforgettable memories CofC and Go Cougars!" – Senior Molly Coyle
Men's Cross Country
Hayden DiBona (Biology) appears multiple times in the College of Charleston men's cross country program's record book as one of the top runners in school history. He currently ranks second all-time in the 8K (24:53.78) and 10K (31:25.6) and owns five of the Top 25 times in the 8K and four of the Top 25 times in the 10K. A local product from Mt. Pleasant, DiBona was an All-Colonial Athletic Association performer in 2017, finishing seventh at the conference meet. He also placed in the Top 20 all three years and was a two-time CAA Runner of the Week selection. A highly-decorated student-athlete majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry, DiBona is a South Carolina Palmetto Fellow and an Otto B. German Scholar with plans of attending medical school. He serves as an emergency room technician at Roper St. Francis Hospital, working with nurses and physicians in treating and stabilizing patients in addition to running tests and performing CPR. DiBona interned at a neuroscience research lab at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and completed a five-week internship at Base Hospital Horana in Sri Lanka in the summer of 2017.
"My experience at College of Charleston has helped me grow in so many ways. I'll definitely miss wandering around campus with all of the friends I've made here." – Senior Hayden DiBona
Women's Basketball
Cailin Dorsey (Biology & Public Health) has been a consistent performer both on-and-off the court for the College of Charleston women's basketball program. She played in 85 career games, making 20 starts while logging 296 points, 133 rebounds and 35 assists throughout her four years at The College. Dorsey served as a team captain during her senior year. She became the first Cougar to receive CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honors in program history in 2018-19. A member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, Dorsey is a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative and Vice President of the school's Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society. She earned the CofC Department of Health and Human Performance's department-wide Renowned Role Model Award in 2020. In addition, Dorsey has shadowed at several institutions including Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Pediatrics, Duke University Hospital and the East Cooper Medical Center. With a cumulative 3.86 grade-point average as a double major in biology and public health, the Raleigh, N.C., native plans to attend MUSC in May to begin coursework towards her doctorate degree in physical therapy.
"The past four years at the College of Charleston were the best years of my life. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have gone to CofC and represented The College on the basketball court. I will hold onto the teammates, friendships and memories I made here forever." – Senior Cailin Dorsey
Women's Indoor Track & Field
Kayla Ennis (French and Foreign Language Education) has been an exceptional hurdler, while also competing in sprints as a member of the College of Charleston women's track & field team. She left her mark in the school record books with the sixth-fastest time in the outdoor 400-meter hurdles (1:05.02). A native of Pelion, S.C., and a first-generation college student, Ennis has succeeded on the track and in the classroom, while balancing a full-time job at Kickin' Chicken throughout her career. She served as Vice President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) during the 2019-20 school year, coordinating conference-wide fundraisers and participating in the Colonial Athletic Association SAAC Leadership Summit to discuss and vote on legislation for NCAA Division I Athletics in June of 2019. Ennis also served as Co-President of the French Club on campus and completed a 15-week clinical internship as a middle school teacher this spring. During her internship, the French and foreign language education major read to students, organized a student reading room and offered classroom help and encouragement as part of a community service project at North Charleston Elementary School.
"As a first-generation college student, my experience at College of Charleston was life changing. I'm eternally grateful to have been given the opportunity to learn and grow among so many wonderful individuals." – Senior Kayla Ennis
Beach Volleyball
Lauren Freed (Special Education) has been a steady presence on the court for both the College of Charleston volleyball and beach volleyball programs over the last four years. The Troy, Ohio, native has been a stalwart both in the classroom and on the playing surface for The College. The Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Preseason Watch List honoree is the all-time leader in career winning percentage (.682) and ranks fourth all-time in career wins (54) in the school's beach volleyball record books. Freed and her partner, Kennedy Madison, compiled an 18-6 record and earned American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) Top Flight recognition during the 2019 season. She also represented the Cougars at the 2019 USA Volleyball Collegiate Beach National Championships advancing to the quarterfinals alongside partner Logan Manusky. Freed is set to graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in special education.
"I cannot say enough about how the College of Charleston volleyball program has impacted my life. I feel incredibly grateful to have gone through my college career playing alongside some of the best teammates and people I've ever known and being coached by some of the greatest minds in the game. The relationships I have formed with my teammates, coaches, athletic trainers, academic advisors, and everyone in between, are so dear to my heart and I know these friendships are for life. I am a better person, because of my time at CofC. I know I will always have a family here." – Senior Lauren Freed
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
Simone Harris (Public Health) has established herself as one of the top throwers in College of Charleston women's track & field history. The Greenville, S.C., native, and two-year team captain set the school record in the outdoor discus when her throw of 147 feet, 6 inches broke a 14-year-old mark in 2018. Harris also ranks second all-time in the hammer throw (157-10) and third all-time in the outdoor shot put (44-2 ½). She scored at the CAA Championships in the discus in 2018 and the shot put in 2019. In the program's indoor record book, Harris ranks second all-time in both the shot put (43-7 ¼) and weight throw (55-0). Off the field, she has been active in the Charleston community with over 100 hours of volunteer work at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital. Harris completed a public health internship at the Shifa Free Clinic and cared for youngsters as a church childcare worker at St. Mark's Episcopal Church. The public health major also participated in the USC Upstate-BMW Manufacturing Co. Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Academic Outreach Camp and served as a home healthcare aid for Heart of the Carolinas in the summer of 2019, in Mauldin, S.C.
"My time at College of Charleston is one I'll never forget as it helped me learn to find my own way. I'll always cherish the people I've met and the many lessons I've learned." – Senior Simone Harris
Softball
Summer Jenkins (Geology) has been a consistent performer as a member of the College of Charleston Softball pitching staff. A local product from Summerville (S.C.) High School and team captain in 2020, she appeared in 86 career games with 41 starts and had 20 wins, three shutouts and a 3.80 ERA. Jenkins came up big in the most important games including a berth on the CAA All-Tournament Team in 2018 allowing only two runs in 15.1 innings. She also won two games against UNCW in the final series of 2019 to help the Cougars qualify for the postseason. Jenkins has served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is a member of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, the geology honors college at CofC. The work in her major included an independent study collaborating with a geology professor dealing with flood mapping on the Charleston Peninsula. Jenkins gives back to the local softball community in the form of pitching lessons. She is engaged to be married in October and is considering a career in coaching or research for the Department of Natural Resources.
"My teammates not only became my lifelong friends, but my lifelong sisters." – Senior Summer Jenkins
Women's Soccer
Rachel Kim (Accounting) has been a superstar on-and-off the pitch for the College of Charleston women's soccer program. An All-Colonial Athletic Association Rookie Team and All-CAA Second Team honoree during her four-year career, she made 65 appearances with 52 starts and recorded four goals and one assist for the Cougars. Kim made a lasting impression on The College as she was recently honored as the J. Stewart Walker Cup Award recipient – the highest honor bestowed upon a student-athlete by the athletics department. Recognized by her peers, she also won the Most School Spirit Award in back-to-back years and has been a part of CofC's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). This past school year, Kim served as SAAC President and helped start an annual department-wide food drive to aid the Cougar Food Pantry, a student-driven initiative on campus to help students facing food insecurity. Originally from Ellicott City, Md., she assists her local club soccer team as a coach and teaches soccer to youth. An accounting major and finance minor, Kim will intern at a local accounting firm in Maryland this summer and is hopeful to attend graduate school in the fall.
"It's really hard to put my experience at The College into words, but I am extremely grateful for all of the amazing people I've met during my journey at CofC. From my past and present teammates and coaches, to my advisors and to my fellow Cougs, everyone has had a major impact on me. I'm lucky to have had the amazing experience I was able to have. I won't forget a second of it. Go Cougars!" – Senior Rachel Kim
Baseball
Kris Kuhn (Biology) capped a solid career on the diamond with the College of Charleston baseball program. The Summerville, S.C., native filled a key role on the Cougars' pitching staff over the last several seasons eating up valuable innings out of the bullpen. Kuhn fanned 57 batters over 50 and one-third career innings including 10 strikeouts in four and two-thirds frames during the shortened 2020 campaign. Off the field, he is a member of the CofC Honors College, an associate member of AED (Pre-Professional Health Honors Society) and a perennial Charleston Elite 15 honoree, which is awarded to the student-athlete with the highest term grade-point average from each of The College's varsity sports. Kuhn plans to attend medical school after graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology this spring. He has volunteered for multiple area organizations including the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center emergency department, the Dream Center Free Health Clinic and Kids On Point – an after school mentoring program for kids in the Charleston area. Kuhn has also job shadowed at Lowcountry Pediatrics, Roper St. Francis ER and Ophthalmology and Solomon Family Dentistry.
"I am grateful for my time at The College, both academically and athletically. I have no doubt that it has prepared me for what's next." – Senior Kris Kuhn
Men's Basketball
Sam Miller (Economics) closed out his two-year career on the College of Charleston men's basketball team having played in 105 career games with 28 starts. This season, the 6-foot-9 forward made the game-winning bucket and scored a career-high 20 points in a memorable win over Hofstra at TD Arena. The unsuspecting sharpshooter was tops for the Cougars in 3-point field-goal percentage with a 42.4 percent accuracy and 74 made treys for his career. He reached double figures in scoring on 19 occasions and brought down a career-high 14 rebounds twice versus rival UNCW and USC Upstate. Prior to Charleston, Miller started his collegiate career at the University of Dayton and was a part of the Flyers' back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2016 and 2017. From Alexandria, Va., he will graduate this spring with a bachelor's degree in economics and his favorite class at CofC was sports econometrics. Miller's post-grad plans include playing professional basketball and later coaching.
"I will always cherish my time at the College of Charleston. It has been like a family since the day I showed up – and will be forever. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful community." – Senior Sam Miller
Volleyball
Mandy Napierala (Communication) concluded her College of Charleston volleyball career with a stellar senior campaign in 2019. The native of Rochester, N.Y., totaled 480 kills and 107 blocks over the last two seasons, while helping the Cougars reach the semifinals of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) in 2018. Napierala paced the Cougar attack with 288 kills in 2019 and accumulated 85 blocks during the 2018 campaign. She is an outstanding student as well carrying a 3.707 grade-point average and is on track to graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication and a minor in marketing. Last spring, Napierala completed an internship with Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS). She has post-grad plans to either pursue a professional playing career in Europe or return to CofC for the 2021 beach volleyball season.
"My time on the College of Charleston volleyball team has been the most valuable and memorable three years. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I was given that allowed me to learn some of the most important things about volleyball, life and myself that I will have forever. I am thankful for the coaches that have poured time and compassion into me, taught me and pushed me to grow. I am also so thankful for professors that have invested in my development and the academic and athletics support staff that have been involved in my success. The amazing friendships I have made are deeply cherished and will last a lifetime. I truly believe I have grown into a better version of myself here at CofC, and for that I will always be thankful." – Senior Mandy Napierala
Women's Tennis
Anastasia Palaska (Business Administration) has been a key contributor for the College of Charleston women's tennis program winning 39 career singles and 41 career doubles matches throughout her four-year career with the Cougars. The Volos, Greece, native, is also a great leader on-and-off the court with the younger members of the squad. She has been a active member of the prestigious Schottland Scholars leadership program on campus and holds a 3.5 grade-point average majoring in business administration. Palaska will return to the singles and doubles lineup next season and is extending her academic program to include a second major in hospitality & tourism management and a minor in project management.
"My time at CofC has been the most exciting adventure of my life. It may have been challenging to be far away from home, but this school has made it easy for Charleston to become a home away from home for me. I'll be forever grateful for the people I've met along the way. All of my advisors, coaches, professors and friends will always be a part of me. It is a special school, in a very special place, and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to experience it." – Senior Anastasia Palaska on her time at #TheCollege
Women's Golf
Anna-Theresa Rottluff (Business Administration) has been a major contributor to the success of the College of Charleston women's golf team throughout her four-year career. The Cougars earned their highest national team ranking (No. 24 by Golfweek) in program history in the Fall of 2019. They also won the Colonial Athletic Association Championship title and competed at NCAA Regionals in 2018. During her junior campaign in 2019, she was selected to the All-CAA First Team competing and starting in all 11 tournaments with a career-best 71.67 single-season stroke average. A two-time CAA Women's Golfer of the Week honoree hailing from Dusseldorf, Germany, Rottluff has played in 38 career tournaments with six Top-10 finishes. As a freshman, she shot a career-low 67 in the second round of the Palmetto Intercollegiate to tie the second-lowest round ever by a CofC women's golfer. The business administration major with a concentration in finance interned during the summer of 2019 with Coroplast, a major German-based company that specializes in supplies for the automotive industry. Twice honored on the Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team in 2018 and 2019, she is currently studying to take the GMAT exam this summer. Rottluff will return to the Cougars' lineup next season, while attending graduate school for her master's degree in business administration.
"It's impossible to put my experience and the time I've had at CofC into words. I am forever thankful I got to be a part of such an amazing program and to call the College of Charleston my home away from home. I can't thank my teammates, friends, coaches, professors and advisors enough for making these past four years an exceptional college experience. Go Cougars!" – Senior Anna-Theresa Rottluff
Coed Sailing
Nicole Simon (Political Science and International Studies) enjoyed a stellar career as a member of the College of Charleston sailing program and a stalwart on the women's team. Originally from Coronado, Calif., she was part of the Cougars' back-to-back Leonard M. Fowle Trophy-winning seasons in 2016-17 and 2017-18 and has several regatta victories to her credit. Simon is a double major in political science and international studies with a concentration in Latin America and the Caribbean and a minor in Spanish. She was selected to participate in the Global Ambassadors Program, which offers mentoring, extracurricular and international experiential learning designed for students interested in careers in international service organizations through the CofC School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs. Simon has made the CofC Honor Roll and President's List multiple times, while also representing the sailing program as its Charleston Elite 15 honoree. She hopes to complete a graduate program abroad after graduation this spring.
"I am so grateful for the time I have spent at the College of Charleston. The opportunities I have been presented with, experiences I have had and the people I have met, helped me continue to grow over these four short, but incredibly impactful years." – Senior Nicole Simon
Men's Golf
Logan Sowell (Sociology) has already etched his name in the record books as one of the best to ever play for the College of Charleston men's golf program. He recently became only the fourth player in school history to be honored on the Division I PING All-Region Team. Before the team's spring season was cut short due to COVID-19, Sowell led the Cougars with a team-best 71.17 stroke average playing and starting in all four tournaments. He claimed his first collegiate tournament win at the Puerto Rico Classic shooting 9-under par in a 75-player field comprised of 10 Top 100-ranked golfers in February. During his junior year in 2019, Sowell became the sixth player in program history to compete at NCAA Regionals as an individual. He shot a career-low, final-round 65 that season at the Trinity Forest Invitational – tied as the fifth-lowest round ever by a CofC golfer. The 2019 Colonial Athletic Association All-Tournament Team honoree has made six Top 5 finishes throughout his career and 10 inside the Top 10. He also earned nods on the All-CAA First Team in 2019 and All-CAA Second Team in 2018. A five-time CAA Men's Golfer of the Week selection, Sowell is on track to graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in sociology and coaching minor. The Kershaw, S.C., native, will return next season to the Cougars' lineup.
"My time at CofC has been the best four years of my life. The College has provided me with the opportunity to live out a childhood dream of playing golf at one of the highest levels – and for that, I'll be forever grateful. Along the way, I've met some of my best friends and made memories that I'll cherish for a very long time." – Senior Logan Sowell
Men's Tennis
Easton Thomas (Marketing) has been a solid contributor for the College of Charleston men's tennis program. He has amassed 19 career singles and 22 career doubles wins throughout his four-year career at The College. During his junior year, he played primarily at No. 1 doubles and No. 1 and No. 2 singles for the Cougars. This past season, Thomas served as team captain and took pride in his leadership role with the underclassmen on the squad. Off the court, he teaches tennis each summer to the first family and members of Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. Thomas also volunteers at his local church in his hometown of Johns Creek, Ga. The marketing major looks to pursue a future career in the marketing field, while continuing to teach tennis.
"The past four years here at the College of Charleston has meant the world to me. The experiences, friendships and memories I have made are unforgettable. Being a part of the tennis team and family here is special. I will always be proud to be a CofC alumnus." – Senior Easton Thomas
Offshore Sailing
Sam Tobio (Supply Chain Management) has been a crucial component in the success of the College of Charleston's offshore sailing team over the last four years. The native of Sarasota, Fla., helped the offshore sailors capture the program's sixth ICSA Keelboat National Championship title last fall. He and the Cougars also claimed the program's second Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup in 2019. Tobio also crewed in a pair of second-place finishes at the Southern Collegiate Offshore Regatta and McMillian Cup during the 2018-19 season. He is a member of the CofC Honors College and a Beatty Scholar in the CofC School of Business. Tobio has interned at several area manufacturing companies and hopes to secure a supply chain or operations role with a manufacturing company after graduation.
"The sailing team and athletics program at CofC have been an amazing experience over the past four years. The support network in these programs have helped me excel in athletics and academics simultaneously. I am incredibly grateful for that." – Senior Sam Tobio
Women's Sailing
Alie Toppa (Public Health) concluded her career with the College of Charleston sailing program with back-to-back Leonard M. Fowle Trophies, a pair of ICSA All-America honors and a Gill Coed National Championship in 2019. She represented the Cougars at each of the last three Sperry Women's National Championships placing second in 2018. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native has played a key role in more than a dozen regatta victories including back-to-back Nelson Roltsch Team Race wins and a 20-point victory in her final collegiate regatta at the Navy Spring Women's in March. She has devoted much of her free time working with the Charleston chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to protecting the world's oceans and waterways. The public health major plans to pursue a post-graduate sailing career, while coaching this summer in Newport, R.I.
"My time at CofC has been some of the best years of my life. Being a student-athlete on the sailing team has given me so many memories and taught me so much. I felt so privileged to travel every weekend and sail with all of my closest friends. My teammates and coaches have been such a big part of my college career and I am thankful for each and every one of them." – Senior Alie Toppa
Men's Soccer
Michael Waggoner (Finance) has played a key role for the College of Charleston men's soccer team. While only playing in two games with one career start for the Cougars, he provided a greater role as a leader for the underclassmen on-and-off the field. Waggoner currently serves as an intern with Hummingbird Search Partners, a private equity firm in Charleston. He is also heavily involved with the CofC School of Business Investment Program serving as a U.S. Economist, Energy and Materials Analyst. Originally from Memphis, Tenn., Waggoner's post-grad plans include securing a full-time position in financial services in New York City.
"I am forever grateful for the friendships and community that welcomed me as an out-of-state freshman in 2016. Throughout my time at CofC, I have grown as a person and professional through my academic experiences with the business school and investment program as well as my men's soccer career. I cannot thank my teachers, coaches, teammates and friends enough for creating an exceptional college experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life." – Senior Michael Waggoner
John Groce Introductory Press Conference 4/1/26
Friday, April 03
Amanda Butler Introductory Press Conference 4/1/26
Friday, April 03
On the Prowl with Charleston Athletics: Adrian Anderson, Women's Golf
Wednesday, March 18
On the Prowl with Charleston Athletics: Maggie Mrowka, Softball
Wednesday, March 11
