Comet golfers Hancock, Scism garner prestigious accolades
Rachel Hancock and Julia Scism are the latest Cottey Comet student-athletes to have earned prestigious accolades.
Members of the Comet golf team, Hancock and Scism excelled during the fall campaign — but were unable to hit the links for the spring season due to the global pandemic.
Hancock, a junior by way of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, was tabbed to the Association of Independent Institutions All-Conference team.
Cottey golf coach Eric Cameron called Hancock the most highly decorated golfer in school history and is the first-ever from the program to net all-conference accolades.
Hancock concluded the fall campaign with a team-leading scoring average of 85.71, and spent most of the fall ranked in the top six of the A.I.I. Conference. Hancock also collected a first-place finish at a home-match in September against College of the Ozarks.
Additionally, Hancock won two of her three matches at Baker University's match-play competition in mid-October — propelling the Comets to a top-five team finish.
"Rachel was looking for a huge spring prior to the cancellation of spring sports," Cameron said. "She had her sights set on qualifying for nationals after a strong fall — and that followed competing in the Missouri State Women’s Amateur, and the USGA Women’s 4- Ball Qualifier. Congrats Rachel, we know you will be representing Cottey at Nationals next spring."
Scism, a freshman out of Lee's Summit, was a recipient of the NAIA's Champions of Character Award.
In order to receive the prestigious accolade, a student-athlete must demonstrate the five core values of the Champions of Character — Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Sportsmanship, and Servant Leadership — and display those values on campus and in the surrounding community on a daily basis.
Cottey softball team-member Lindsey Boord was also bestowed with the Champions of Character Award.
"They both demonstrate a tremendous commitment to their programs and Cottey’s mission," the school said in a statement. "Congratulations on a tremendous year!