King, Barnes voted Men's College Player, Coach of Year by TSWA

May 11, 2018 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee’s Nick King was voted Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Year while Tennessee’s Rick Barnes earned TSWA Coach of the Year, as announced this week by the organization.

King averaged 21.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists for the Blue Raiders, posting 32 double-digit scoring games with 19 contests of 20-plus points on his way to Conference USA Player and Newcomer of the Year honors. The Memphis, Tenn., native was voted Third Team All-American by USA Today, the first All-America accolades in Middle Tennessee men’s basketball history.

The senior forward recorded 11 double-doubles and was the only player in Conference USA to rank in the Top 5 in the league in scoring and rebounding. He was a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year and was on the Lute Olson Award Watch List. King broke the single-season scoring record for the Blue Raiders with 694 points, shattering a 31-year old mark by 71 points. He ranked 28th nationally in scoring and 14th in total field goals made (259).

Barnes led the Vols to a share of the regular season SEC Championship and reached the SEC Tournament championship game with a club picked 13th by many in the preseason. Tennessee finished the year 26-9 overall, 10-5 in conference play, earning the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament in four years. UT ranked in the AP Top 25 for 14 straight weeks during the 2017-18 campaign, reaching as high as No. 13.

Barnes was voted SEC Coach of the Year by the AP and league coaches and earned Coach of the Year honors for NABC District 21 and USBWA District IV. He was selected as a finalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Trophy for Men's College Coach of the Year and given the Athletes in Action Coach Wooden "Keys to Life" Award.

King and Barnes will be honored during the annual TSWA Hall of Fame dinner and banquet at Cumberland University on Thursday, July 12.

TSWA names baseball, softball Players of the Week

May 2, 2018 Forrest Freeman

BASEBALL: Vanderbilt’s DeMarco, Memphis’ Bowlan garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Pat DeMarco and University of Memphis pitcher Jonathan Bowlan were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games April 23-29.

DeMarco batted .636 (7-for-11) with three RBIs, two stolen bases and six runs scored in three games for the Commodores against South Carolina. The Staten Island, N.Y., native was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and a walk in the first game of the series versus the Gamecocks.

The freshman outfielder collected two hits with two stolen bases, a walk and two runs scored in the second game of the series and was 3-for-5 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored in the finale. He reached base nine times in the three outings.

DeMarco is batting .311 with nine doubles, six home runs, 28 RBIs and 35 runs scored in 43 games this season.

University of Memphis pitcher Jonathan Bowlan

Bowlan set the Memphis program and American Athletic Conference record with 18 strikeouts in a win at 20th-ranked South Florida. The Arlington, Tenn., native posted the most strikeouts by a pitcher in a Division I game this season in his first career complete game. The junior righthander allowed two runs on four hits and did not walk a batter, facing just 31 total hitters in the contest.

Bowlan retired 18 straight to end the contest and recorded all 18 strikeouts swinging. He posted his second victory of the year and has a 2.78 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 68.0 innings over 11 appearances.

2018 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Kyle Blackwell, Cumberland University (Player); Dillon Cate, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
February 27 – Fernando Garcia, Bryan College (Player); Grant Boyd, King University (Pitcher)
March 6 – Sam Mang, Trevecca University (Player); Stephen Chamblee, Bryan College (Pitcher)
March 13 – Sam Mang, Trevecca University (Player); Will Neely, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 20 – David Scoggins, Bryan College (Player); Sean Hunley, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 27 – Hayden Lewis, Union University (Player); Mason Hickman, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
April 3 – Drew Huff, Middle Tennessee (Player); Grant Boyd, King University (Pitcher)
April 10 – Ethan Harrison, Trevecca University (Player); Daniel Tolano, Tennessee Wesleyan (Pitcher)
April 17 – Parker Phillips, Austin Peay (Player); Matt Bradley, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
April 24 – Wade Weinburger, Bryan College (Player); Drew Pierce, Trevecca University (Pitcher)

SOFTBALL: Trevecca’s Odom, Austin Peay’s Rackel named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca University’s MaKray Odom and Austin Peay’s Morgan Rackel were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games April 23-29.

Odom batted .714 (10-for-14) with two doubles, four RBIs and seven runs scored in four games for the Trojans. The McEwen, Tenn., native singled twice and drove in a run in the first game of a doubleheader against Malone University. She was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the second game versus the Pioneers.

The sophomore collected three more hits with a double, one RBI and three runs scored in the first of two games against Walsh University and registered two hits with a double and two runs scored in the second contest versus the Cavaliers.

Odom is batting .475 with five doubles, four triples, 22 RBIs and 38 runs scored in 38 games this season.

Rackel posted a 4-0 mark in four outings, allowing just one run with 28 strikeouts and tossing a no-hitter against Eastern Illinois.

The Calgary, Alberta, native picked up two victories in relief against Alabama A&M, striking out four in 1.2 hitless innings in a 1-0 victory, with the Governors scoring the only run in the bottom of the seventh. The junior lefthander allowed two hits with four strikeouts in 1.2 scoreless innings in the second game versus AAMU, with APSU scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh in a 3-2 win.

Rackel struck out nine and gave up one run on three hits in a complete-game win against SIU-Edwardsville and followed that with a complete-game no-hitter versus EIU, walking one and striking out 11 in the first no-hitter for APSU since 1997. The Panthers had three baserunners in the contest, two of those via Govs errors.

Rackel improved to 18-6 with a 1.51 ERA in 30 appearances this season with 17 complete games, allowing 121 hits in 153.1 innings of work. She has 187 strikeouts and opponents are batting .207 against her.

2018 TSWA WOMEN’S SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Bailey Alexander, Trevecca University (Player); Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
February 27 – Jocelyn De La Cruz, Middle Tennessee (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 6 – Kyler Trosclair-Klatt, Memphis (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 13 – Lexi Rouse, Belmont (Player); Molly Smith, Memphis (Pitcher)
March 20 – Essence Strambler, Maryville College (Player); Kayley Caplinger, Cumberland University (Pitcher)
March 27 – Brigid Antonelli, Cumberland University (Player); Savannah Carr, Trevecca University (Pitcher)
April 3 – Morgan Brewer, Maryville College (Player); Savannah Carr, Trevecca University (Pitcher)
April 10 – Megan Groves, Trevecca University (Player); Taylor Waldrop, Tennessee Tech (Pitcher)
April 17 – Gabby Morris, Union University (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)
April 24 – Haley Barnette, Union University (Player); Cori Jennings, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)

Baseball, softball Players of the Week honored by TSWA

April 24, 2018 Forrest Freeman

BASEBALL: Bryan’s Weinburger, Trevecca’s Pierce garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bryan College’s Wade Weinburger and Trevecca University’s Drew Pierce were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games April 16-22.

Weinburger batted .600 (9-for-15) with three home runs, 10 RBIs and eight runs scored in four games for the Lions, who scored 60 runs in four contests. The Eleuthera, Bahamas, native posted two hits with one RBI and two runs scored in a midweek victory against Martin Methodist.

The sophomore outfielder registered two hits with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored in the first game of the series versus Montreat College. He tripled, homered and scored three times, driving in three runs in the second contest against the Cavaliers and collected two hits with another home run, two RBIs and two runs scored in the series finale.

Weinburger is batting .335 with 18 home runs, 61 RBIs and 66 runs scored in 46 games this season.

Pierce tossed seven shutout innings against Cedarville University, giving up three hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in a 1-0 TNU victory. The Kingsport, Tenn., native retired nine of the final 10 batters before exiting the contest and faced just four batters over the minimum. The righthander worked around an error in the second, induced an inning-ending doubleplay in the third and a triple and a walk in the fourth.

Pierce picked up his first win in the contest and has 72 strikeouts in 64.2 innings of work over 11 appearances.

SOFTBALL: Union’s Barnette, Middle Tennessee’s Jennings named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union University’s Haley Barnette and Middle Tennessee’s Cori Jennings were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games April 16-22.

Barnette batted .562 (9-for-16) with one double, two home runs, eight RBIs and three runs scored in five games for the Bulldogs. The Franklin, Tenn., native singled, drove in three runs and scored a run in the first game of a doubleheader at West Alabama and doubled home a run and hit a pair of solo homers in the second contest against the Tigers.

The junior infielder posted three hits in the first game of a series versus Alabama-Huntsville, driving in a pair of runs. Barnette singled and walked in the second contest of the series and collected one hit in the final game against the Chargers. She is batting .304 with 11 doubles, four home runs, 28 RBIs and 14 runs scored in 45 games this season.

Jennings registered a win and a save in three appearances for the Blue Raiders, giving up just two runs on eight hits in 13.0 innings. The Brush Creek, Tenn., native got the final two outs for a save against Belmont, walking one and striking out one versus the Bruins.

The senior tossed a complete game in the first contest of a doubleheader against Florida Atlantic, giving up one run on four hits and one run with five strikeouts. She allowed one run on four hits with three strikeouts in 5.1 innings in the second contest, but the Owls scored three times in the seventh to take the victory and keep Jennings from a second win over FAU.

She is now 15-8 with two saves and a 2.23 ERA in 138.0 innings this season, striking out 83 in 28 appearances.

TSWA honors 2018 all-state bowling teams

April 19, 2018 Forrest Freeman

McMinn County's Zach Price garnered All-State honors from the TSWA.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its 2018 Bowling All-State teams on Thursday for Division I and Division II. Student-athletes are selected based on their finish in the TSSAA Championships.

BOYS
Division I
Calin Meeks, Hardin County, Sr.
Xavier Powell Short, Smyrna, Jr.
Zach Price, McMinn County, Sr.
Josh Meeke, Smyrna, Jr.
Jacob Berry, Blackman, So.

Division II
Jackson Stanley, Christian Brothers, Sr.
Jimmy Morrow, Memphis University School, Sr.
Nick Agnew, St. Benedict at Auburndale, Sr.
Quinn Collins, Pope John Paul II, Jr.
C.J. Petrin, Notre Dame, Fr.

GIRLS
Division I
Megan Metz, Wilson Central, Sr.
Danielle Jedlicki, Siegel, Jr.
Faith Welch, Hardin County, Jr.
Sarah Sanes, Blackman, Jr.
Lindsay Manning, Lebanon, Sr.

Division II
Kennedy West, Friendship Christian, So.
Ashton Bazzell, Baylor School, Sr.
Leah Hayes, Clarksville Academy, Fr.
Lauren Davis, St. Mary's Episcopal School, Sr.
Alexa Pangonas, St. Benedict at Auburndale, Jr.

Wrestling all-state teams recognized by TSWA

April 18, 2018 Forrest Freeman

Wilson Central's Michael Kramer won the 285 weight class in AAA for Wilson Central to garner All-State honors.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its 2018 Wrestling All-State teams on Wednesday for classes A-AA and AAA as well as Division II and one team for girls. Student-athletes are selected based on their finish in the TSSAA Championships.

BOYS
AAA
106
Trey Bates, Beech, Fr.
Trae McDaniel, Cleveland, Fr.
Grant Fetters, Wilson Central, So.
Eli Clemmons, Lebanon, Fr.

113
Hunter Borders, Wilson Central, Fr.
Gabe O’Callaghan, Bartlett, Sr.
Wesley Devaney, Bradley Central, So.
Kenny Harless, Stewarts Creek, So.

120
Brayden Palmer, Beech, Jr.
Michael Cannon, Arlington, Jr.
Lucas Gaines, Stewarts Creek, Jr.
Dominic Williams, Lawrence County, Jr.

126
Noah Horst, Beech, So.
Calvin Martin, William Blount, Sr.
Bryce Pond, Cleveland, Sr.
Luke Dezember, Lawrence County, Jr.

132
Cameron Henderson, Smyrna, Jr.
Chase Brown, Knox Halls, Sr.
Chad Milasauskas, Brentwood, Sr.
Dillon Pendley, Tennessee High, Jr.

138
Luke Story, Science Hill, Sr.
Job Dooley, Franklin, Jr.
Alex Pergande, Wilson Central, Jr.
Michael Whiteside, Cleveland, Jr.

145
Dominic Fields, Tennessee, Jr.
Arthur James, Science Hill, Sr.
Enrique Gonzalez, Rossview, Sr.
Cody Mathews, Cleveland, Sr.

152
Austin Sweeney, Cleveland, Jr.
Josh Pieterila, Hardin Valley Academy, So.
Michael Moultry, Siegel, Sr.
Dalton Cockman, Arlington, Jr.

160
William Diehl, Science Hill, Jr.
Blake Spink, Clarksville Northwest, Sr.
Dontae Johnson, Kingsbury, Sr.
Dylan Quinn, Mt. Juliet, Jr.

170
Landon Fowler, Blackman, Jr.
Max Greyson, Bearden, Sr.
Sawyer Knott, Summit, Sr.
Jackson Headrick, Bradley Central, Sr.

182
Christian Salter, Siegel, Sr.
Dawson Satterfield, William Blount, Sr.
Robert Hicks, Cleveland, Sr.
Antonio Mariscal, Rossview, Sr.

195
Bradley Williams, Clarksville High, Jr.
Brent Buckman, Knox Halls, Sr.
CJ Grissom, Brentwood, Sr.
Devin Gibson, Bradley Central, Jr.

220
Ty Boeck, Soddy Daisy, Sr.
Javier Salvador, Heritage, Sr.
Denzel Medina, Science Hill, Sr.
Jamal Miller, McGavock, Sr.

285
Michael Kramer, Wilson Central, Jr.
Luke Champion, Tullahoma, Sr.
Cameron Oliver, Bartlett, Sr.
Thomas Roberts, Anderson County, Sr.

A-AA
106
Daniel Uhorchuk, Signal Mountain, Fr.
Max Dansereah, Nolensville, Jr.
Cole McCartney, Greenbrier, So.
Jackson Whitlow, Harpeth, So.

113
Elijah Hicks, Sullivan East, Sr.
Trevor Lewis, Hixson, Fr.
Haiden Dill, Chattanooga Central, Jr.
Isaac Tate, Signal Mountain, Sr.

120
Dylan Becker, Harpeth, Jr.
Charles Burton, Hixson, So.
Blaine Fussell, Eagleville, Sr.
Christopher Cagle, Red Bank, Jr.

126
Jeffrey Gross, Forrest, Jr.
Riley Bennett, Fairview, Fr.
Rolando Lucio, Harpeth, So.
Kevin Muschel, Signal Mountain, Fr.

132
Landon Adzima, Knox Gibbs, Sr.
Thomas Hatcher, Harpeth, Sr.
Wyatt McLemore, Eagleville, Fr.
Jeremiah Shackleford, Hixson, So.

138
Tyree Bass, Sycamore, Jr.
Jordan Lewis, Hixson, Jr.
George Gillman, Knox Gibbs, So.
Will Keener, Sequatchie County, Jr.

145
Matthew Maxwell, Knox Gibbs, Sr.
Jonathan Hawkins, Greenback, Sr.
Preston Worley, Signal Mountain, Fr.
Andrew Baiamonte, Pigeon Forge, Jr.

152
Elijah Davis, Fulton, Jr.
Joseph Skidmore, Pigeon Forge, Fr.
Kilroy Hill, Elizabethton, Jr.
Cameron Weaver, Sequatchie County, Sr.

160
Noel Leyva, Knox Gibbs, Sr.
Alexander Richardson, Alcoa, Sr.
Daniel Hodges, East Ridge, Sr.
Austin Geeting, Forrest, Sr.

170
Isaiah Brooks, Knox Gibbs, Jr.
Zach Malone, Greenback, Sr.
Nick McClendon, Forrest, So.
Jacob Kieta, Pigeon Forge, Sr.

182
Trent Knight, Greeneville, Jr.
Andrew Carlisle, Forrest, Sr.
Ethan Olinger, Pigeon Forge, Sr.
Chris Taylor, Elizabethton, Jr.

195
Noah Evans, Alcoa, Jr.
Wesley McCoy, Forrest, Jr.
Elijah Lawson, Knox Gibbs, Sr.
Michael Moore, Greeneville, So.

220
Toby Lynch, Greenbrier, Sr.
Jacob Miller, Nolensville, Jr.
Grant Brace, Alcoa, Jr.
Oliver Hunter, Grace Christian Academy-Franklin

285
Jackson Clevenger, Fairview, Jr.
Elijah Zweydorff, White House, Sr.
Devotis McCurdy, Hixson, So.
Devin Spence, Harpeth, Sr.

Division II
106
Christian Morris, McCallie School, Fr.
Dayne Dalrymple, Christian Brothers, Fr.
Tyler Holland, Father Ryan, So.
Ethan Madaris, Chattanooga Christian, So.

113
Emory Taylor, McCallie School, Fr.
Jeremy Holloway, Notre Dame, Jr.
Carlo Guinocor, Memphis University School, Sr.
Charles Salvaggio, Christian Brothers, Jr.

120
Cody Chittum, McCallie School, 8th grade
Will Higgins, Montgomery Bell Academy, So.
Luke Spencer, Christian Brothers, Jr.
Harrison Nichol, Notre Dame, Sr.

126
Alex Whitworth, McCallie School, Fr.
Evan Anthony, Christian Brothers, Fr.
Tanner Thornton, Grace Christian Academy-Knoxville, Sr.
Bailey Rush, Father Ryan, Jr.

132
Garrett Bowers, Christian Brothers, So.
Zach Ward, McCallie School, Jr.
Hayden Hartline, Baylor School, Sr.
Joseph Tarquine, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr.

138
Andrew Pace, Baylor School, Jr.
Lawrence Madson, Father Ryan, So.
Grant Speer, Notre Dame, Sr.
Logan Spell, Brentwood Academy, Fr.

145
Bryce Wittman, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr.
Austin Atchley, Baylor School, Sr.
Garrett Lay, Grace Christian Academy-Knoxville, Sr.
Elijah Hodge, Christian Brothers, Jr.

152
Connor Mitchell, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.
Joseph Vogelpohl, Father Ryan, Sr.
Alex Atchley, Baylor School, Sr.
Eric Beecham, Grace Christian Academy-Knoxville, Sr.

160
Mason Reiniche, Baylor School, Jr.
Eric Hodge, Christian Brothers, Sr.
Hayden Rowland, McCallie School, Sr.
Hayden Alexander, Friendship Christian, So.

170
Thomas Sell, McCallie School, Jr.
Connor Duffy, Baylor School, So.
Nikita Kousivik, Father Ryan, Sr.
Luke Condy, Christian Brothers, Jr.

182
Riley Westlake, Baylor School, Sr.
Dominic Fisher, Montgomery Bell Academy, Jr.
Montana Doty, Christian Brothers, Jr.
Tristan Heckert, Goodpasture Christian, Sr.

195
Tommy Brackett, Christian Brothers, Sr.
Walker Robinson, McCallie School, Sr.
Will Watkins, Boyd-Buchanan, Sr.
Sam Reynolds, Baylor School, Sr.

220
Grayson Walthall, Christian Brothers, Sr.
Jordan McCoy, Brentwood Academy, Sr.
Stephen Christenbury, Memphis University School, Jr.
Chase Looper, McCallie School, So.

285
Airin Spell, Brentwood Academy, Sr.
Patrick Healy, Christian Brothers, Sr.
Tymon Mitchell, Franklin Road Academy, Jr.
Ryan Jackson, Friendship Christian, So.

GIRLS
105
Kate Barnett, William Blount, Sr.
Taylor Roy, David Crockett, Jr.
Kalee Sanberg, Smyrna, So.
Kortney Brinkley, Siegel, Jr.

112
Kerra Strevel, Heritage, Fr.
Tyesha Thomas, Elizabethton, Fr.
Cathlin Green, Clarksville Northeast, Jr.
Elizabeth Treece, Science Hill, Sr.

119
Isabella Badon, Daniel Boone, Jr.
Jasmine Barrios, Rossview, Sr.
Meagann Kiser, Knox Halls, Sr.
Kaleigh Royal, Tullahoma, So.

125
Robin Yunis, Rossview, So.
Helaina Campbell-Ketron, Science Hill, Sr.
Kaitlyn Lee, Mt. Juliet, Jr.
Promyse Bryson, Tullahoma, Sr.

132
Emma Walker, Rossview, So.
Donny Bradborn, McGavock Comprehensive, Jr.
Julianna Gibson, Heritage, So.
Katy Champion, Tullahoma, Fr.

140
Vivian Hurn, Montgomery Central, So.
Jillian Allford, William Blount, Sr.
Peyton Marsh, Page, Sr.
Allison Vasquez, Warren County, Jr.

150
Paige Snapp, David Crockett, Sr.
Jazlyn Oropeza, McGavock Comprehensive, Sr.
Deyla Brito-Perez, Clarksville Northwest, Jr.
Kimberly Garcia, Knox Gibbs, Sr.

160
Kenya Sloan, Hardin Valley, Sr.
Brielle Bissonette, Rossview, Fr.
Jane Allen, Tullahoma, Jr.
Brianna Teasley, Clarksville Northwest, Jr.

170
Gabrielle Neal, Cane Ridge, Sr.
Haley Brown, Elizabethton, Sr.
Abigail Vance, West Creek, Fr.
Alicean Stottlemyer, Coffee County, Sr.

190
Katie Scoville, Stone Memorial, Sr.
Zanaya Shropshire, Independence, Sr.
Katherine Palmeiri, Clarksville Northwest, Jr.
Olivia Ratliff, Rossview, Jr.

215
Shamia Wells, Elizabethton, So.
Taylor Davis, Heritage, So.
Jadia Fosten, Antioch, Fr.
Destiny Ridley, Pearl-Cohn, So