Parkland’s latest accolades, new fitness center to aid in recruiting

Recruiting is a huge component of any athletic program. Parkland’s many coaches stress the importance of bringing in the best talent available. Numerous strategies are employed during conversations with recruits as a means of swaying their decision.

However, encouraging a player to commit to Parkland based on a tactic such as style of play isn’t the only way to convince these prospective student athletes to become a Cobra. Parkland’s record of success as well as construction advancements become an enticement to both potential scholarship athletes and walk on athletes who may make a difference.

This year, the accolades piled up in numerous Cobra sports.

The athletic year kicked off with the men’s and women’s soccer teams. An up and down year for the men’s soccer team saw them finish 10-9-1. Despite this, there was no shortage of excitement from the Brazilian freshman Dhani Cerra.

Cerra tallied 11 goals and eight assists on the season and was named to the All-Region First Team for Region 24. His teammates performed admirably as well. Douglas Andrade, Ben Flodstrom, and Gregg Flores received MWAC All-Conference Second Team honors.

Head coach Josh Alford headlined the women’s soccer program. Ending the 2011-12 season with a record of 14-2-1 earned Alford distinction as the Region 24 Coach of the Year. Leading him to that award were the four First Team All-Region players in his lineup.

Jenny Musick, Sadie Somers, Priscila Azuaga, and Keren Sharabi were the recipients of the award. Sharabi and Somers were first and third on the team in assists respectively. Azuaga, a freshman, had an outstanding season as she led the Lady Cobras in scoring with 16 goals and chipped in 8 assists. Musick, the Cobras’ career leader in goals scored, finished with 13 goals and is headed to Austin Peay State University in the fall.

Parkland women’s volleyball team earned high praise as well in the fall. Spearheaded by Region 24 Coach of the Year Cliff Hastings, the Lady Cobras concluded the season with a 41-8 record and a ninth place finish at Nationals.

A lot of the success can be attributed to Melanie Moore, Region 24 Player of the Year and First Team All-American. The sophomore setter was instrumental in the capture of the program’s 15^th consecutive conference title and fourth consecutive trip to Nationals. Her 1672 assists and average of 9.78 assists per set were amongst the top five nationally. 

This team had the advantage of a Second Team All-American as well. Morgan Martells, also MWAC Co-Freshman of the Year, led the team with 521 kills, 176 blocks, and a hitting efficiency of 38.1%.

Cobra athletics had a great showing on the hardwood this past year. Before heading to SIU-Carbondale, former men’s basketball coach Nate Mast produced 41 victories over the last two years.

A lot of those victories were due in large part to the tandem of Shaquille Lowery and Jamel Johnson. Lowery and Johnson, both Second Team All-Conference players, led the team in scoring. Johnson was the team’s leading rebounder while Lowery was the front runner in assists. Added to the fray was All-Conference Honorable mention Cody McCollum who averaged nearly 10 points a game.

After an impressive 34 win campaign in 2010-11, women’s basketball head coach Karrie Redeker added another 20 wins to her profile. She’d do so behind Region 24 Player of the Year Caitlyn Cody. Cody, a transfer, led the team with 11.1 points per game and was second in rebounds with 6.2 a game. 

In addition to Cody, the team’s leader in assists, Kristyne Smith, earned Second Team All-Conference honors. Ebany Brumfield, a force in the paint averaging 7.1 rebounds per game, was an All-Conference Honorable Mention.

As the basketball season closed, the baseball and softball season began what would be an exciting year for both.

The Cobras baseball team, who finished at 40-20, racked up numerous accolades. Two All-Region First Team pitchers, Bo Weir and Josh Witt as well as All-Region First Team infielder Wes Minton were key parts of the past season.

Drawing the most attention, however, was catcher Bobby Burns. Named a Third Team All-American, Burns did not commit one error, led the team with a .377 batting average, and contributed 38 RBI. Burns will be attending Morehead State University in the fall.