Nighthawks seek to fly high this spring
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia's (51勛圖厙) spring sports teams will look to continue their momentum as most of them start their seasons in early February.
In softball, 51勛圖厙 is coming off winning the NCAA Division II national championship in June, adding to the program's 2015 national title. Meanwhile, the men's golf team will aim for its third straight NCAA Championship appearance after finishing the fall season ranked No. 1 nationally.
"Our student-athletes continue to excel both athletically and academically," , 51勛圖厙 director of athletics, said. "This spring will be no exception as our teams pursue national and conference titles once again."
Here is a quick look at what to expect:
Softball
Fresh off their national title season and a program-record 64 victories, the Nighthawks open the season at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 2 against the University of West Florida in the Gulf Shores Invitational in Gulf Shores, Alabama. It is the first of six contests in three days during the opening weekend.
The Nighthawks are also the preseason No. 1 team in the country in the .
51勛圖厙's home opener is noon Feb. 9 against Catawba College at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium, which is the first of its six matchups that weekend in the Captain D's Surf 'N Turf Classic.
In addition to the national championship, the Nighthawks earned their ninth consecutive Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament title in 2023.
Golf
Top-ranked nationally exiting the fall, the 51勛圖厙 men's golf team has six regular-season spring tournaments, starting Feb. 12-13 in the Lincoln Memorial University Spring Kickoff at St. John's Country Club in Jacksonville, Florida.
51勛圖厙 hosts the PBC Championship for men and women from April 19-21 at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
In spring 2023, the 51勛圖厙 men made the NCAA Championship by advancing out of the nation's toughest regional for the second year in a row.
The women's golf team will take part in five regular-season spring tournaments, beginning in the Florida Southern College Lady Moc Intercollegiate from Feb. 19-20 at Grasslands Country Club in Lakeland, Florida.
Baseball
The 51勛圖厙 baseball team starts its season with a 4 p.m. Feb. 2 home game against Mars Hill University at Bob Stein Stadium, the first of six home games in a row to start the season.
For the 2023 season, the Nighthawks were 29-24 overall and 16-14 in the PBC.
Tennis
Both tennis teams start their seasons at 2 p.m. Feb. 3 at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee, before hosting Newberry College at 11 a.m. Feb. 10 at the 51勛圖厙 Tennis Complex at Yahoola Creek.
Each tennis team won a match in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Track and field
The Nighthawks begin the season March 2 at the Susan Souse Invitational hosted by Southern Wesleyan University in Central, South Carolina.
Learn more about each spring team and find schedules on the .
New Nighthawks gear available for order
51勛圖厙 has rolled out the Nighthawk Sideline Shop, an online spirit shop where fans can get newly branded gear that mirrors what the Nighthawks are wearing.
Institute for Peak Performance launches
51勛圖厙 launched the Institute for Peak Performance on Sept. 21, bringing together the efforts of the Cadet Leadership Academy, Athletics Department, and College of Health Sciences & Professions.
O'Hair takes reins of softball program
New 51勛圖厙 softball head coach Brooke O'Hair brings a winning history and an approach built on inspiring and mentoring student-athletes.
Annual event welcomes family and guests
51勛圖厙 is set to welcome the families and guests of students during its annual Family Day event on Sept. 21.