Founding Fathers
Student-Athletes
The Inaugural Class
Founding Fathers
Dr . Robert Alexander , USC Aiken Chancellor of USC Aiken for 17 years , he served as the first president of the Peach Belt Conference and Chairman of the PBC Board of Directors .
Finis Horne , Lander University The father of Lander athletics , Horne ( 1936-2013 ) brought immediate respect and relevancy to the fledgling Peach Belt Athletic Conference . A strong advocate of creating a Division II league , he is credited with creating the name ‘ Peach Belt .’
Marvin Vanover , Peach Belt Conference The first commissioner of the Peach Belt Conference who served in that capacity for 16 years following a 25-year career as a basketball coach and athletic director .
PBC YEARBOOK
Krissy Burt ( O ’ Kelley ), Francis Marion A three-time All-Conference volleyball player with a . 399 career hitting percentage ( 2nd all-time in the PBC ), she led the Patriots to their first NCAA Tournament appearance .
Jami Cornwell , USC Aiken A two-sport star at USC Aiken , Jami Cornwell was a three-time All-Conference softball player and four-time All-Conference selection in basketball . She is the only PBC student-athlete to ever be named the Freshman of the Year in two sports .
Mandy Gerolstein ( Wilkinson ), USC Aiken Mandy Gerolstein ( Wilkinson ) was a dominant force in PBC volleyball from 2004-08 . A three-time All-Conference selection , she was the 2007 Player of the Year and an Academic All-American .
Zsofi Golopencza ( Ellwood ), Armstrong State A women ’ s tennis standout , Zsofi Golopencza ( Ellwood ) holds a unique distinction among every student-athlete that has ever played any sport in Peach Belt Conference history . Of them all , she is the only one to be named the PBC Player of the Year all four years of her career .
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Y E A R S
Former USCA Chancellor Dr . Robert Alexander speaks at the PBC Hall of Fame induction ceremony .
2015-16
Student-Athletes
Jennifer Brabson ( Cleek ), Francis Marion Jennifer Brabson ( now Jennifer Cleek ) is the PBC ’ s all-time career scoring leader , a mark that still stands 16 years following one of the most successful four-year careers any women ’ s basketball player has ever had .
Dane Burkhart , USC Aiken Dane Burkhart was at the center of the USC Aiken golf dynasty that won three straight national championships at USC Aiken from 2004 to 2006 . From Aiken , S . C ., he was the 2003 PBC Freshman of the Year and named the co-Player of the Year in 2005 .
Jason Jones , Kennesaw State Jason Jones had one of the most prolific baseball careers in PBC history and stands to this day as one of the best to ever play in the conference .
Ben Madgen , Augusta University Ben Madgen finished his four-year career in 2010 as one of the most accomplished men ’ s basketball players in Peach Belt history and the league ’ s all-time leading scorer .
Claes Persson , Lander Claes Persson was at the heart of the Lander men ’ s tennis dynasty . From 1993-97 he won four straight national championships as part of Lander ’ s historic run of eight straight .
David Robinson , Georgia College David Robinson is the only men ’ s golfer in PBC history to be named the conference ’ s Player of the Year three straight times . Also a three-time All-American , he won seven tournaments from 2000-03 at Georgia College .
Henrik Ronnevig , USC Upstate Henrik Ronnevig was a key part of the USC Upstate men ’ s soccer dynasty
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