April 14, 2024

Griffith, Simms, Sciolis each take home All-OVC honors at league banquet

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – For the first time since 2000 and just the second time in program history, an impressive three members of the Tennessee Tech women’s golf team were recognized as members of the 2023-24 All-Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Golf Team during the league’s annual postseason banquet Sunday evening.

By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – For the first time since 2000 and just the second time in program history, an impressive three members of the Tennessee Tech women's golf team were recognized as members of the 2023-24 All-Ohio Valley Conference Women's Golf Team during the league's annual postseason banquet Sunday evening.

Seniors Ainsley Simms and Gittle Sciolis and freshman Chloe Griffith were each selected to the All-OVC Team, becoming the first Golden Eagle trio to accomplish the feat since Kim Spangler, Ashley Beal, and Cherry Bevis were honored in 2000. Griffith was also recognized as a member of the OVC All-Newcomer Team.

"To say I'm proud of these three is an understatement," Tech head coach Amanda Smith expressed. "At the beginning of the year, we usually sit down and map out our goals for the season. These three made it a point to accomplish this goal and they never looked back. The way they push themselves and grow to become better players has truly changed this team and culture forever. It's an honor to get to coach them and watch them play the game they love."

Griffith became the first member of the purple and gold to earn a selection to the All-OVC Team as a rookie after pacing the team during the regular season with a scoring average of 75.39. That mark ranked seventh in the OVC as well.

Twice during the year, the freshman earned OVC Women's Golfer of the Week, including after capturing the first medalist honors of her career. Griffith became the first member of the Cookeville crew to win the Bobby Nichols Intercollegiate, earning her first career All-Tournament nod in the process.

Simms took home All-OVC recognition for the second consecutive year, ranking second on the team and ninth in the league with a 76.22 scoring average. Also armed with an All-Tournament honor on the year, she became the first Golden Eagle to garner a spot on the All-OVC Team in back-to-back years since Ashley Spangler picked up recognition in 2007 and 2008.

Gittle was selected to the All-OVC Team for the first time in her career after finishing the season third on the Golden Eagles with a scoring average of 78.00. Twice during the campaign the fifth-year senior picked up OVC Women's Golfer of the Week recognition, including following the team's match-play event to kick off the spring season.

The trio's accomplishment marked the first time that at least two Golden Eagles were recognized as members of the All-OVC Team in back-to-back seasons since 2008 and 2009.

After closing out the first round of action at the OVC Championships Sunday afternoon, the purple and gold will head back out to the links at Tunica National Golf Course Monday morning for round two. Tech will open the day with tee times starting at 8:00 a.m. CT.

Photo by Jahmil Taylor, OVC