Senior David Pruett - Lander University

Peach Belt ConferenceNow entering its 23rd year of existence in 2012-13, thePeach Belt Conference has become one of the elite DivisionII conferences in the nation. Since its inception in 1990-91,the Peach Belt has developed a consistent history of excellencewhich continues to this day with 30 national championships and25 national finalists.Starting with only two championships in1991, in men’s and women’s basketball, theconference has expanded to 13 championshipsports with the addition of women’s golf in thefall of 2009.The conference traces its roots back to Novemberof 1988 when 11 schools first met inDavid BrunkGreenville, S.C., to form a Division II conference.Following a second meeting on Dec. 3,1989, five of those 11 schools, plus two others, formed the PeachBelt and began play in fall 1990.The Peach Belt was less than a year old before capturing anational championship. The Columbus State golf team took thehonor by winning the 1992 national crown, the first of three golfchampionships the Cougars own. One year later, the Landermen's tennis team began their record-breaking run of eightstraight national titles, the first PBC dynasty. Since then, USCAmen's golf has won three straight national titles, 2004-06 whileAASU women's tennis has captured five titles overall.The 2008-09 season was among the PBC’s most memorable.The Armstrong Atlantic men’s and women’s tennis teams bothwon their respective nationalchampionships – for thesecond year in a row; a featonly done once before incollege tennis. In addition,the Augusta State men’sbasketball team became thefirst conference program tomake back-to-back trips tothe NCAA Elite Eight, ArmstrongAtlantic became thefirst PBC volleyball teamever to advance to the EliteEight and the North Georgiasoftball team was rankedNo. 1 in the nation andreached the World Series.The seven charter membersof the conference wereArmstrong Atlantic StateUniversity, Columbus StateUniversity, Francis MarionUniversity, Georgia College& State University, LanderUniversity, USC Aiken andUSC Upstate. The namePeach Belt Athletic Conferencewas adopted in Januaryof 1990 and modified toPBC Quick FactsAddress: 503 Blackburn Dr.,Martinez, Ga. 30907Founded: Dec. 3, 1989Phone Number: 706-860-8499Fax Number: 706-650-8113Website: www.peachbeltconference.orgCommissioner: David BrunkMedia Relations: Ken GerlingerCompliance: Diana KlingOperations: Carl SeguraPeach Belt Conference in May of 2000.Augusta State joined the conference in 1991 and UNC Pembrokebecame the ninth member on July 1, 1992. They werefollowed by Kennesaw State University on July 1, 1994, ClaytonState University on July 1, 1995 and the University of NorthFlorida on July 1, 1997. Kennesaw State and North Floridadeparted for the Division I ranks in 2005, USC Upstate did thesame in 2007, and the conference welcomed in North GeorgiaCollege & State University in 2005 and Georgia SouthwesternState University in 2006.In 2009-10, the Peach Belt grew once again with the additionof the University of Montevallo and Flagler College, giving thePBC 13 members, the most the league has ever had. The additionof the two schoolsreturned the PBC to the stateof Florida and expanded theleague into Alabama for thefirst time.David Brunk was namedthe second PBC commissionerin May of 2007.Brunk replaced MarvinVanover, who was PBCcommissioner from 1991 to2007.Dr. Linda Bleicken, presidentof Armstrong AtlanticState University, is the PeachBelt Conference president.The conference currentlyholds championships in 13sports, six for men and sevenfor women. They are men’sand women’s cross country,men’s and women’s soccer,volleyball, men’s andwomen’s basketball, men’sand women’s tennis, baseball,softball and men’s andwomen’s golf.30 Lander Basketball