Augusta, GA
PBC Releases Baseball Team of Academic Distinction
AUGUSTA, GA — The Peach Belt Conference has released the 2024 baseball Team of Academic Distinction, presented by Barnes & Noble College. The team is a part of the PBC’s larger initiative to celebrate the academic achievements of PBC student-athletes.
To be eligible for the team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team’s events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility. The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee the program.
Barnes & Noble College currently operates more than 1,400 campus bookstores and their school-branded e-commerce sites, serving more than 6 million college students and faculty nationwide. As a strategic partner, Barnes & Noble College is a retail and learning company. The company is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
| Name | Institution | Year | Hometown | GPA | Major (Minor) |
| Jorge Arispuro | North Georgia | Sr. | Lawrenceville, Ga. | 3.731 | Finance |
| Koby Ayala | Augusta | Jr. | Lilburn, Ga. | 3.75 | Business Administration |
| Michael Bailey | Claflin | Grad. | St. Matthews, S.C. | 3.95 | Business Administration |
| Daniel Barcena | Georgia Southwestern | Jr. | Cape Coral, Fla. | 3.60 | Communications & Emerging Media |
| Sebastian Biggs | USC Beaufort | Jr. | Painfield, Ill. | 4.00 | History |
| Jacob Bodkin | USC Aiken | So. | Tyrone, Ga. | 3.888 | Exercise & Sport Science |
| Colby Brabson | Columbus State | Sr. | Columbus, Ga. | 3.74 | Kinesiology |
| Peyton Burton | Columbus State | Jr. | Phenix City, Ala. | 3.68 | Health & Physical Education |
| Jacob Butler | USC Aiken | So. | Windsor, S.C. | 3.653 | Exercise & Sport Science |
| Jackson Chizek | Columbus State | So. | Loganville, Ga. | 3.96 | General Business |
| Michael Coit | Claflin | Sr. | PG County, Md. | 3.57 | Sport Management |
| Evan Cowan | Georgia College & State University | So. | Richmond Hill, Ga. | 3.60 | Finance |
| AJ Deibel | USC Aiken | Sr. | Aiken, S.C. | 3.695 | Business Administration |
| Doom Dennis | USC Aiken | So. | Charleston, S.C. | 3.879 | Business Administration |
| Aiden Driscoll-Sadusky | USC Beaufort | Sr. | Carwfordville, Fla. | 3.782 | Interdisciplinary Studies |
| Jacob Fletcher | USC Aiken | Jr. | Acworth, Ga. | 3.869 | Business Administration |
| Nick Foray | Lander | Grad. | Wesley Chapel, N.C. | 4.00 | Business Administration |
| Gary Garrett | Lander | Grad. | Snellville, Ga. | 3.93 | Business Administration |
| Leo Giannoni | Columbus State | Jr. | Marietta, Ga. | 3.85 | Finance |
| Joey Gill | Columbus State | Jr. | Navarre, Fla. | 3.61 | General Business |
| Mason Gray | Flagler | Jr. | Lake City, Fla. | 3.93 | Business Administration |
| Justin Haskins | Flagler | So. | Suwanee, Ga. | 3.60 | Finance |
| Parker Ingram | Augusta | Jr. | Gray, Ga. | 3.51 | Kinesiology |
| Win Johns | Columbus State | Sr. | Savannah, Ga. | 3.62 | Business Administration |
| Britt Kelly | Augusta | Sr. | Roswell, Ga. | 3.72 | Communication |
| Jacob Lassiat | North Georgia | Sr. | Alpharetta, Ga. | 4.00 | Marketing |
| John Leland | USC Beaufort | Jr. | Pensacola, Fla. | 3.678 | Interdisciplinary Studies |
| AJ Mathis | Georgia College & State University | Sr. | Dublin, Ga. | 3.68 | Exercise Science |
| Kobe Miller | Claflin | Grad. | Chesnee, S.C. | 3.78 | Business Administration |
| Taichi Nakao | Lander | Jr. | Auckland, New Zealand | 4.00 | Exercise Science |
| Bennett Nance | Lander | Grad. | Eden, N.C. | 3.91 | Business Administration |
| Andrews Opata | North Georgia | Jr. | Lawrenceville, Ga. | 3.848 | Elementary & Special Education |
| Tyler Overholt | Lander | So. | Abbeville, S.C. | 3.90 | Business Administration |
| Luke Parker | USC Aiken | Jr. | Kingsland, Ga. | 3.685 | Business Administration |
| Steven Reiss | Flagler | Jr. | Green Cove Springs, Fla. | 3.55 | Business Administration |
| Seth Robinson | USC Beaufort | So. | Summerville, S.C. | 3.687 | Business Administration |
| Kurt Rogers | Lander | So. | Westminster, S.C. | 3.70 | Business Administration |
| Joshua Sharp | USC Aiken | Jr. | Lawrenceville, Ga. | 3.984 | Applied Computer Science |
| Cooper Smith | Flagler | Jr. | Tallahassee, Fla. | 3.78 | Sport Management (Psychology) |
| Hunter Steger | USC Aiken | Grad. | North Augusta, S.C. | 3.519 | Master of Business Administration |
| Will Taylor | Flagler | So. | Mobile, Ala. | 3.71 | Business Administration (Marketing) |
| Zach Thomas | Flagler | Jr. | Fort Meyers, Fla. | 3.80 | Criminology (Business Administration) |
| Isaiah Wellman | Flagler | Jr. | Brunswick, Ga. | 3.89 | Sport Management |
| Jordan Wilke | Augusta | Sr. | Cartersville, Ga. | 3.74 | Political Science |
| Brayton Wilmes | USC Beaufort | So. | Monument, Colo. | 3.60 | Business Administration |
| Gabriel Wuerth | Georgia College & State University | So. | Woodstock, Ga. | 3.54 | Marketing |
Augusta, GA
Geoff Duncan campaigns in Augusta ahead of Election Day
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan campaigned in Augusta ahead of Election Day, making stops at two churches and meeting with local faith leaders.
The former lieutenant governor visited Good Hope Baptist Church on Cedar Street, where he spoke with the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition’s “Music to the Polls” group.
Duncan told us that, if elected governor, he wants to expand Medicaid, pass what he called “common-sense gun legislation,” and create more economic opportunities statewide. He also pointed to affordability concerns impacting families and businesses.
“I want to take $1.7 billion of our state’s fund and wrap it around the axle of poverty,” Duncan said, adding that he wants to lower child care costs and improve temporary assistance programs.
Duncan also stopped at Miles Memorial Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
What is the cheapest city in Georgia to live with a roomate?
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
Augusta, GA
Augusta nonprofit hosts family financial literacy day
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Families had the chance to sharpen their money skills at a financial literacy event hosted by local nonprofit Crown Her Mentoring at the Bernie Ward Community Center.
The free event offered resources for all ages, from kids learning the basics to adults planning for their financial future.
Attendees could sit in sessions about budgeting, credit, opening banking accounts and insurance options.
Organizers said the event was designed to make financial education accessible during Financial Literacy Month.
“People need to understand the importance of a checking account, a savings account—how to manage your money. How to invest your money. People need to learn about life insurance,” said Torrecka Davis, organizer.
Crown Her Mentoring will host a mental health awareness event on May 23. Open enrollment for new mentees will begin on May 10.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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