May 4, 2006
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomores Matt Cook (men's golf) and Zeb Johnson (men's track & field) were today honored by the Southern Conference by earning the league's Athlete of the Month for April in their respective sports. Each month during the athletic calendar, the SoCon selects one athlete from each in-season sport with current selections coming from baseball (pitcher and player), men's and women's golf, softball (pitcher and player), men's and women's outdoor track and field and men's and women's tennis.
Both Cook and Johnson are repeat monthly award selections this year as Cook was dubbed the most outstanding men's golfer in the conference for a third time, including September and March, while Johnson was named the top men's indoor track & field athlete during February. Combined this season, Western Carolina student athletes have garnered 15 SoCon student-athletes of the month this year.
Cook played in two events during the month of April, placing second at the Wofford Invitational and winning the 2006 Southern Conference individual championship. He fired a three-round score of 217 to finish one stroke out of first place at the Wofford Invitational and was the top finisher among SoCon competitors. The Murphy, N.C., product carded a three-round total of 211 at the SoCon Championship at the par 72, The Links at Stono Ferry in Hollywood, S.C., tying former Catamount Greg Lewis for the best 54-hole performance at the SoCon championship in program history. His efforts at the championship earned him individual medalist honors and SoCon Golfer of the Year plaudits by the league's coaches.
With other conferences completing their conference championship events, Cook awaits word on whether or not he will receive an at-large bid to compete in the 2006 NCAA Championships, which begin with regional competition May 18-20.
Over the course of the month of April, Johnson turned in a SoCon-leading and NCAA regional qualifying time of 20.88 in winning the 200-meter dash at the Western Invitational held in Cullowhee. His performance also was a facility and WCU school record. He also helped the 4x100-meter relay team capture first place at the same event with a time of 40.31 which not only qualified for regionals, but was additionally a facility and school record. For his work, Johnson was selected as the league's Track & Field student-athlete of the week for April 3. Later in the month, at the Sea Ray Relays, Johnson again ran a leg of the 4x100-meter relay and qualified for regionals a second time with a mark of 40.57.
At the annual SoCon Outdoor Track & Field Championship, Johnson claimed two individual championships in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, edging freshmen teammates Kevin Johnson and Manteo Mitchell, respectively. He also ran the lead leg on the winning 4x100-meter relay team at the meet to help for 30 total points as the Catamounts won the outdoor championship, sweeping both titles during the year.
Western Carolina's SoCon Student-Athlete of the Month Selections: September: Matt Cook (men's golf); Ashley Hovda (women's golf) October: Ashley Hovda (women's golf) November: Brandy Andersen (women's golf); Alesha Row (women's soccer) February: Zeb Johnson (men's indoor track & field); Mendy McKenzie (softball pitcher) March: Milton Bolton (men's outdoor track & field); Matt Cook (men's golf); Allyson McCubbins (softball player);
Mendy McKenzie (softball pitcher); Blake Murphy (baseball); Raquel Ramseur (women's outdoor track & field) April: Zeb Johnson (men's outdoor track & field); Matt Cook (men's golf)
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