The city of Columbia, South Carolina has found a very unique way to honor the dedicated student-athletes of nearby Benedict College! Get the full story from Benedict below.
Benedict College recognized the men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams on Monday in the Swinton Center cafeteria for winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships over the weekend, while the City of Columbia honored the entire Benedict athletic program for winning a school-record seven conference championships over the 2021-22 school year.
City of Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann presented Benedict President Dr. Roslyn C. Artis a proclamation naming Monday as “Benedict College Tigers 2021-22 SIAC Championships Celebration Day.”
The proclamation recognizes Benedict’s conference championships in men’s cross country, women’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, and mixed cheerleading. The proclamation also acknowledges Benedict’s three coaches who earned SIAC Coach of the Year honors – Frank Hyland in men’s cross country, men’s track and field and women’s track and field; Gwendolyn Rouse for men’s volleyball; and Gary Taylor for men’s and women’s tennis. Also mentioned are Benedict’s two SIAC Players of the Year – Tajh Green for men’s basketball and Ras Jesse Delancy for men’s volleyball, as well as Benedict’s 39 student-athletes who received SIAC All-Conference honors this year. The proclamation also highlights Benedict’s success in the classroom as well, with student-athletes having an overall grade point average of 3.0.
Mayor Rickenmann also presented Keys to the City to each of Benedict’s championship teams and coaches of the year.
Monday’s celebration included recognition of Benedict’s 19 men’s and women’s track and field athletes who were named All-SIAC.
Benedict won both the men’s and women’s track and field championships on Saturday at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. The men won by 62.5 points, winning five gold medals during the three-day event. The Lady Tigers were even more dominant, winning the championship by 131 points and bringing home 12 gold medals.
