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Accident Leaves Signed Football Player Unable to Play

By: Kelly Bradley
gwu-today.com Reporter

Logan Kudlinski had plans to enroll at Gardner-Webb last fall and play football. Today, he’s thankful to be alive and attending classes.

Kudlinski from Jacksonville, Florida transferred to Gardner-Webb from Lambuth University in Tennessee to play football. Ron Dickerson Sr., who used to be the head coach for Lambuth, and is now the assistant coach for the Runnin’ Bulldogs asked Kudlinski to follow him here from Lambuth University.

In August 2011, two weeks before Kudlinski was supposed to report to Gardner-Webb, he went out to celebrate a friend’s birthday. They were driving at night in Palatka, Florida when his friend did not see a turn coming. They hit a tree going 50 mph.

Kudlinski’s best friend of seven years left the scene assumingly to find help and later returned unsuccessful.  It was decided to leave Kudlinski because they thought he was dead. When they called the 911 to report the accident, Kudlinski’s friend attempted to put the blame of the car crash on Kudlinski, so he and his friends would not be accused of crashing his mother’s car. They never mentioned that Kudlinski was still in the car unconscious.

When Kudlinski regained full consciousness, he climbed out the window of the car. It was still dark outside.  He could feel a large pain in his upper chest and his knee had gone through the dashboard. The closest gas station to him was at least 20 miles away. He attempted to walk twice, but fell both times. The second time was when his leg completely gave out on him. When he fell, his ear ripped in half on the pavement. Bleeding out, he went unconscious on the side of the road.

He awoke to find his phone shining in his face from the sun. He called 911 and they told him to turn on his GPS so they could locate him. Kudlinski had to be airlifted to Shan Jacksonville Hospital. He was revived on the way.

“I can definitely say that God was looking after me that day shining my phone right in my face,” Kudlinski said. “My doctor said that if I had not called 911, a hunter would have found my body on the side of the road.”

Kudlinski had two shattered ribs, his femur went through his hip shattering his hip socket and he needed a chest tube. Kudlinski laid in traction for eight days until surgery. He was in the hospital for about a month.

Six months after the accident and still in recovery, Logan Kudlinski came to Gardner-Webb University for the spring semester.  The doctor told him he would need about a year in physical therapy with two sessions a week. He’s paying for those sessions out of his own pocket. The doctors have said it is too early to tell if he will ever play football again. Even though Kudlinski is not able to play, Gardner-Webb is still honoring his football scholarship for this year and hopefully the rest of his time here at GWU.

“I don’t care how bad it hurts, unless it’s physically impossible for me to play I am going to play. I will do anything I can to help out with the team until I am able,” Kudlinski said.

Logan Kudlinski in front of the football field. Photo by: Amanda Smith

Logan Kudlinski in front of the football field. Photo by: Amanda Smith

Women’s Basketball vs UNCA

By: Marcus McCoy
gwu-today.com Reporter

Gardner-Webb University lady bulldogs added another win on the season with Saturday evening’s performance against UNC Ashville.

The lady bulldogs were slow to start the first half, but it didn’t take long before they found their rhythm. By the end of the first half GWU was up 35-25.

After a solid first half, GWU remained on top for the remainder of the second period, capping off a 69-52 victory. Key performances were given by Jasmine Dale “finishing with game high 20 pts.”, Brianna Dillard, and Catrina Green. Saturday evening’s victory marks the Lady Bulldogs second conference win of the season.

Number 31, Catrina Green. Photo by: Bryan Cooper

To see all photos, click here.

Baseball vs Maryland Eastern Shore

By: Bethany Wright
gwu-today.com Reporter

The Gardner-Webb University baseball team defeated Maryland Eastern Shore in a three-game sweep. Games one and two were played Friday afternoon due to inclement weather predicted for Sunday afternoon’s game.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs defeated the Hawks in game one 11-4 courtesy of vital at-bats by Benji Jackson, Scott Coleman, Adam McFarland, John Harris, Ryan Hodge, Dusty Quattlebaum, Alex Newman, and Henry Rundio throughout the course of the game.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs were lead on the mound by pitcher Brock Wilson during game one as he had two strike outs and only allowed two hits.

Maryland Eastern Shore took the lead early in second game against the Runnin’ Bulldogs as they maintained the lead through the first five innings of play. Due to a fielding error by the Hawks, Brad Collins was able to rally the Runnin’ Bulldogs with Hodge continuing to hit a triple allowing Harris to score to place the Runnin’ Bulldogs on top 5-4.

Connor Scarborough opened the second game for Gardner-Webb where he allowed zero earned runs throughout five innings. Andew Barnett was the relief pitchers for the Runnin’ Bulldogs and was able to help them clinch their second victory over the Hawks.

Game three was played on a beautiful Saturday afternoon as Freshman Beau Hilton would lead the Runnin’ Bulldogs on the mound in his first career start. Gardner-Webb went on to defeat Maryland Eastern Shore 7-0 to finish out the three game sweep.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs will remain at home as they will host a Southern Conference team, Wofford, Wednesday, February 22nd at 3:00 pm.

Number 30, Beau Hilton, pitching the ball. Photo by: Rebekah Rausch

Number 16, Benji Jackson, with the hit. Photo by: Rebekah Rausch

To see all photos, click here.

Women’s Tennis vs ECU

By: Bethany Wright
gwu-today.com Reporter

The Gardner-Webb University women’s tennis team faced off against the Lady Pirates of Eastern Carolina University Saturday at home.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs were lead by Freshman Alice Hopkins and senior Erica White as the #1 and #2 singles beat both of their ECU opponents. Hopkins’ victory over Natalie Collins of the Lady Pirates clinched Gardner-Webb’s victory over ECU.

Hopkins defeated her opponent in sets of 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 and White defeated Lady Pirate Yilan Zhang by decision 6-3, 6-3.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs #3 singles also posted a victory for the afternoon as Ioana Oprea defeated Neena Wanko of ECU 6-0, 6-0.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs will take to the road Wednesday, February 21st as they will travel to UNC-Greensboro.

 

Match Results

Singles

Erica White (GWU) defeated Yilan Zhang (ECU) 6-3, 6-3

Alice Hopkins (GWU) defeated Natalie Collins (ECU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4

Ioana Oprea (GWU) defeated Neena Wanko (ECU) 6-0, 6-0

Renata Bakieva (ECU) defeated Jenny Lunde (GWU) 6-2, 6-2

Danielle Terpko (ECU) defeated Ronia Hutterli (GWU) 6-3, 6-3

Dana Gray (ECU) defeated Yasmin Doost (GWU) 6-3, 6-2

 

Doubles

Ioana Oprea/Jenny Lunde (GWU) defeated Yilan Zhang/Danielle Terpko (ECU) 8-3

Alice Hopkins/Yasmin Doost (GWU) defeated Natalie Collins/Renata Bakieva (ECU) 8-4

Neena Wanko/Dana Gray (ECU) defeated Erica White/Tavenner Black (GWU) 8-4

 

Match Results courtesy GWUsports.com

Jenny Lunde prepares to set the ball. Photo by: Jessica Hibbard

Yasmin Doost talks to teammate. Photo by: Jessica Hibbard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To see all photos, click here.

Freshman Harper’s free throws lead GWU past Hornets

By: Adam Barnes
GWU-Today.com Reporter

Donta Harper is just a freshman, but on Saturday night the 6-foot-6 wing player from Winterville, N.C., came up big by sinking two game winning free-throws with 10.9 seconds left to push Gardner-Webb by Delaware State in a 57-56 victory.

Harper finished the game with 11 points, four rebounds, and two steals in 20 minutes of action off the bench.

“The kid is playing with a great deal of confidence right now,” said Runnin’ Bulldogs head coach Chris Holtmann. “The kid has a chance to be special. He’s progressively gotten better every single game.”

The Runnin’ Bulldogs utilized an 11-point run midway through the first half to set the tone early and establish a 31-24 lead heading into half time. However, the Hornets responded with their own 22-2 run to leave Gardner-Webb in familiar territory: down by seven points late in the game.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs were able to take advantage of three turnovers and two free-throw misses by Delaware State in the last two minutes to finish the game on an 8-0 run. The Hornets did not score in the last 2:50 of the game.

Said Holtmann, “I told my guys going into this game that the team that can survive the difficult stretches in this game is going to be the team that is going to win the game.”

With the loss, Delaware State (8-8) witnessed an eight-game win streak come to an end. The Hornets, which sit a half a game out of first place in the MEAC standings, were led by Marques Oliver with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Mike Byron recorded 10 points and 12 rebounds, Stefon Johnson tallied 12 points and six rebounds, and Tashan Newsome scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Gardner-Webb (12-17). The Runnin’ Bulldogs used a powerful interior game to out-rebound Delaware State 39-21 throughout the contest.

With conference tournament seeding to be decided, Gardner-Webb (6-10 in Big South) will travel on Thursday to the Big South regular season champion UNC-Asheville (19-9,14-2 BSC). The Runnin’ Bulldogs will then close out the regular season on Saturday when they play host to Presbyterian.

Said Holtmann, “We can get a little confidence from this win, because I think this is as good of a win as we’ve had in a few weeks.”

Number 4, Tyler Strange. Photo by: Heather Pendergraft

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number 15, Laron Buggs. Photo by: Heather Pendergraft

Wrestling falls to Ohio in Last Regular Season Matchup

By: Olivia Moody
gwu-today.com Reporter

Gardner-Webb’s wrestling team faced off against the University of Ohio for their last regular season meet Saturday and posted four wins, but ended up falling to the Bobcats 28-18.

Gardner-Webb wrestlers were ready to take on Ohio in the regular season finale after 23 year head coach, Richard Wince, made the decision to retire after this season.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs were up 9-0 at the start of the evening when 125 lb. Mike Slaughter and 133 lb. Robbie Golde posted wins over the Bobcats.  Gardner-Webb fought hard, but Ohio then picked up two wins in the 141 and 144 lb. weight classes.

Alex Medved won in a 3-1 decision for the 157 lb weight class and continued his win streak while Gardner-Webb’s Justin Guthrie earned a 5-2 win at 174 lbs. to help the ‘Dogs out.

After two wins from Ohio, the Runnin’ Bulldogs could not come out on top despite wins from Travis Porter and Justin Kozera.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs are expected to compete in the Southern Conference Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee March 3rd.


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