ENMU sports roundup - April 22

ENMU promotes Acosta to senior woman administrator

PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University has promoted Elizabeth Acosta to senior woman administrator, according to a release from the college.

The position is the highest ranking female position in an athletic department, created in 1981 by the NCAA to promote meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports.

Athletic Director Matt Billings recently named Elizabeth Acosta as the Senior Woman Administrator for the department.

“Elizabeth has been a vital member of the athletic department this season and has proven time and time again to be a reliable and knowledgeable member of our team,” Billings said. “It is important that our senior woman administrator is someone that keeps our student-athletes first and we are excited to see Elizabeth succeed in this role.”

Acosta, who first came to work at ENMU in 2016, has worked in the department since July.

“I am so honored to be given this opportunity.” Acosta said in the release. “Working for the athletic department has been an enjoyable experience and I look forward to this new assignment and all the new people I will get to meet and work with.”

New duties began immediately for Acosta, who will also remain as the athletic administrative office coordinator. She replaces Lora Ferguson, who left the university earlier in the spring to pursue a training position at another school.

Acosta serves as president of the support staff senate, and has previously worked with the school’s nursing and Upward Bound programs.

Rodriguez joins soccer squad

Junior college transfer Jorge Rodriguez has signed on to join the Greyhound men’s soccer team in the fall following a year at Laredo College.

The 6-foot-2 defender played 15 games and scored two goals. He was a three-time Region 14 Athletic Conference defensive player of the week winner for the Palominos. He also spent a year at Camden Community College, which finished third in the NJCAA Division III national tournament.

Classes’ top athletes named

The school has recognized six athletes as the top performers in their respective classes, with ENMU so far naming a male athlete and a female athlete from the senior, junior and sophomore classes.

Senior athletes honored were Elysa Rodriguez in softball and Ivar Moinat in men’s track and field. Rodriguez led the Greyhounds in a shortened season with a .409 batting average and .500 in Lone Star Conference play. Moinat posted the fourth-fastest 800-meter time in Division II and qualified for the indoor national championship that was canceled in the NCAA’s response to COVID-19.

Juniors honored were Alivia Lewis of women’s basketball and Ross Dalton of men’s soccer. Dalton recorded 12 wins in goal for the Greyhounds, who were ranked as high as No. 9 nationally early in the season. He allowed 1.28 goals per game and is third in program history with 13 career wins, including a school-record 11 this last season. Lewis was an all-LSC second-team selection and all-defensive team pick after averaging 10.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. She is third in program history at 663 career rebounds.

Sophomores honored were Zamorye Cox of women’s basketball and Joe Conway of men’s soccer. Cox, like Lewis, was a second-team all-LSC selection after leading the team with 13.1 points and 4.7 assists. She also led the LSC with a school-record 83 steals. Conway led the Greyhounds in goal with seven, and was a third-team All-LSC selection.