Southeastern Fire

Southeastern Fire
University Southeastern University
Association NAIA
Conference The Sun Conference
Mid-South Conference
Athletic director Drew Watson
Location Lakeland, Florida
Football stadium Victory Field
Basketball arena The Furnace
Baseball stadium Ted A. Broer Stadium
Mascot Scorch[1]
Nickname Fire
Colors Red and Black
         
Website fire.seu.edu

The Southeastern Fire are the athletic teams for Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in The Sun Conference, formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC). The Fire are associate members of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) after competing in both Division II and, more recently, Division I.[2] In the spring of 2016, the Fire joined the Mid-South Conference for football.[3] Southeastern University has won NCCAA Division II championships in all four men's sports and a NCCAA Division I championship in men's golf. In 2014, Senior Dwayne Johnson was named an NAIA All-American after leading the fire to the final four of the NAIA Division II basketball championship in Point Lookout, Missouri, while Junior Timothy Mitchell was named to the second team.[4] Johnson signed a professional contract with the Liepajas Lauvas of Latvia,[5] while senior Mitchell Wiggins Jr was one of seven players drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters.[6] The university added women's softball, men's tennis, and men's & women's cross country in 2012. Southeastern currently competes in seven men's and seven women's sports, after the addition of football in the 2014-15 academic year. The addition of men's wrestling, the first collegiate program in the state, is planned for the 2015-16 academic year[7]

The team mascot was Maniac until 2014, when a new mascot, Scorch, was introduced along with the unveiling of the new football stadium.[8]

Achievements

In 2006, the men's soccer team won the NCCAA DII National Championship and coach Drew Stacey was named NCCAA coach of the year.[9] In 2015, the men's soccer team won The Sun Conference championship. Freshman Jake van der Luit was named the tournament mvp.[10]

In 2007, the men's golf team won the NCCAA National Championship.[11]

Professional players

Several Fire players have continued their athletic careers professionally, including Dee Gordon who played shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers and second base for the Miami Marlins in Major League Baseball.

Many basketball players have gone on to play professionally, including Ali Hosni (2013), Jacob Blankenship[12] (2012), Povilas Gaidys (2012), Amir Royal (2013),[13] Malcolm Pollock (2013),[14] Dwayne Johnson (2014),[15] and Tim Mitchell (2015) [16]

Justin Michel plays soccer for the Bonaire national football team. Gerritson Craane has played for the Curaçao national football team.

References

  1. ↑ Beasock, Ray (23 August 2014). "Say Goodbye to Maniac, Hello to Scorch". Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "NCCAA Division I". Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  3. ↑ Wilson, Michael (25 February 2016). "Local teams officially join Mid-South football conference". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "NAIA Division II Men's Basketball All-Star Team Announced". National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  5. ↑ "SEU's Johnson Signs Pro Basketball Contract". victorysportsnetwork.com. Victory Sports Network. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "Harlem Globetrotters draft Johnny Manziel, Landon Donovan". The Orlando Sentinel. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Milligan, Del (September 24, 2012). "Southeastern Unveils Initiative to Build 5,000-Seat Football Stadium". The Ledger. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  8. ↑ Beasock, Ray (23 August 2014). "Say Goodbye to Maniac, Hello to Scorch". Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "MEN'S SOCCER DIVISION II CHAMPIONS" (PDF). Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  10. ↑ Pierre, Ducharme (9 November 2015). "Southeastern wins first title in school history". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "Men's Golf National Champions" (PDF). Retrieved 12 November 2015.
  12. ↑ A1Basket.gr Peristeri signed Jacob Blankenship
  13. ↑ "Southeastern University ex players". Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  14. ↑ "Malcolm Pollock Basketball Profile". Latin Basket. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  15. ↑ "Dwayne Johnson". FIBA. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  16. ↑ Fredericksen, Brady (30 May 2015). "Pro Deal a Dream Realized for Fire Star". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 22 October 2015.

Coordinates: 28°01′43″N 81°55′02″W / 28.0286214°N 81.9173312°W / 28.0286214; -81.9173312

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