VALDOSTA —
The Valdosta State football team has been picked to win the Gulf South Conference, according to the conference’s Preseason Coaches’ Poll, while the women’s soccer team has been picked to finish third.
The Blazer football team received three first place votes and one second place vote for a total of 15 points. West Alabama was picked to finish second after receiving two first place and two second place votes for a total of 14 points. Delta State was picked to finish third, followed by North Alabama and West Georgia. Shorter is not eligible to win the conference as the school is still in the transition to the Division II ranks.
Topping the GSC coaches’ soccer list was defending conference champion North Alabama, which received five of a possible seven first place votes. West Florida came in second with three first place and three second place votes. The Blazers received one second place vote, four third place votes and two fourth place votes in the poll.
In the past 37 preseason polls compiled by the conference for football, only 13 teams picked to win the conference prior to the start of the season actually went on to win the conference. Delta State was the most recent team to accomplish the feat last season.
The conference also announced its Preseason All-GSC Teams. In football, West Alabama placed 10 players on the team, followed by VSU, which had eight players.
Offensively, wide receiver Gerald Ford, who missed last season due to academic issues and returns this season, was selected along with offensive linemen Edmund Kugbila, Mesh Wokomaty and Ryan Schraeder.
Defensively, defensive end Tyler Josey and tackle Lawrence Virgil received the nod, along with linebacker Chris Pope and cornerback Matt Pierce.
West Georgia’s Kelly Dawsey, a former Lowndes Viking, was also named to the team.
In soccer, Arielle Sabina and 2011 GSC Freshman of the Year Abbi Edwards were named to the All-GSC Team.
Kim Caitlin Alderman, Arista Hott and Shelby Jennings were all named to the Top Newcomers List, also released by the conference on Thursday.
The Blazer football team opens camp Monday, while the soccer and volleyball teams open camp Wednesday.
Local Sports
Blazer football picked to win GSC; soccer to finish third
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All-Region teams announced
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